arms to put them all away from her, Lucy bent over him and lifted him to
her bosom. The nurse made a step forward to interfere, but then stepped
back again wringing her hands. The mother had risen into a sort of
sublimity, irresponsible in her great woe--if she had killed him to
forestall her agony a little, as is the instinct of desperation, they
could not have interfered. She sat down, and gathered the child close,
close in her embrace, his head upon her breast, holding him as if to
communicate life to him with the contact of hers. Her breath, her arms,
her whole being enveloped the little dying creature with a fulness of
passionate existence expanded to its highest. It was like taking back
the half-extinguished germ into the very bosom and core of life. They
stood round her with an awe of her, which would permit no intrusion
either of word or act. Even the experienced nurse who believed that the
little spark of life would be shaken out by this movement, only wrung
her hands and said nothing. The rest were but as spectators, gathering
round to see the tragedy accomplished and the woman's heart shattered
before their eyes.

Which was unjust too--for the husband who stood behind was as great a
sufferer. He was struck in everything a man can feel most, the instincts
of paternal love awakened late, the pride a man has in his heir, all
were crushed in him by a blow that seemed to wring his very heart out of
his breast; but neither did any one think of him, nor did he think of
himself. The mother that bare him!--that mysterious tie that goes beyond
and before all, was acknowledged by them all without a word. It was hers
to do as she pleased. The moments are long at such a time. They seemed
to stand still on that strange scene. The light remained the same; the
darkness seemed arrested, perhaps because it had come on too early on
account of clouds overhead; perhaps because time was standing still to
witness the easy parting of a soul not yet accustomed to this earth; the
far more terrible rending of the woman's heart.

Presently a sensation of great calm fell, no one could tell how, into
the room. The terror seemed to leave the hearts of the watchers. Was it
the angel who had arrived and shed a soothing from his very presence
though he had come to accomplish the end?

Another little change, almost imperceptible, Lucy beginning to rock her
child softly, as if lulling him to sleep. No one moved, or even
breathed, it seemed,