had he shown the smallest token of affection
for his child. Now that he refused the poor, helpless creature the
least particle of the love that was its due, her heart that had
expanded towards him, turned away and poured all its warmth on the
child.

And in love for it she was satisfied. She could dispense with the
love of others. She thought, cared for, lived but for this one
little object which engrossed her entire horizon, filled every
corner of her heart.

Marvellous is maternal love above every other love on earth,
the most complete reflex of the love of the Creator for His
creatures. In connubial love there is something selfish. It
insists on reciprocity. In filial love there is an admixture
of gratitude for treatment in the past. In maternal love there
is nothing self-seeking, it is pure benevolence, giving, continuous
giving, of time, of thought, of body labor, of sleep, of everything.
It asks for nothing in return, it expects nothing.

Under the power of this mighty love Mehetabel rapidly became strong,
and bloomed. The color returned to her cheek, the brightness to her
eye, the smile to her lips, and mirth to her heart.

Whatever seeds of love for Iver had sprung up in her were smothered
under the luxuriance of this new love that left in her soul no
space for any other. She thought no more of Iver, for she had no
thought for any one other than her child.

She who had never had any one of her own round whom to throw her
arms, and to clasp to her heart, had now this frail infant; and
the love that might have been dispersed among many recipients was
given entire to the child--a love without stint, a love without
bounds, a love infinitely pure and holy as the love that reigns
in Heaven. So completely absorbed was Mehetabel in her love of the
child, that the ill-humors of Sarah Rocliffe affected her not, nor
did the callousness of her husband deeply wound her. So absorbed
was she, that she hardly gave a thought to Simon Verstage and
Susanna, and it was with a pang of self-reproach that she received
an urgent appeal from the latter to visit her, sent through a
messenger, along with a request that she would bring her infant
with her in the conveyance sent from the Ship Inn for the purpose.

With readiness and at once Mehetabel obeyed the summons. There was
a bright flush of pleasure in her cheek as she mounted to her place
in the little cart, assisted by Joe Filmer, the ostler at the Ship,
and folded her sha