The baby made no complaint against the slow fountain of his life, but made the best he could of it, while his mother every now and then peered down on him as lovingly as ever a happy mother on her firstborn. The same God is at the heart of all mothers, and all sins against children are against the one Father of children, against the Life itself.

A few moments more passed, and then Hester began to sing—low and soft. Having no song planned for the occasion, she took a common hymn, sung in all churches and chapels. She put into it as much of sweetness and soothing strength as she could make the sounds hold. She sang with trembling voice, and with more shyness than she had ever experienced before. It was neither a well-instructed nor critically disposed audience she had, but the reason was that never before had she been so anxious for some measure of success. Not daring to look up, she sat with the music flowing over her lips like the slow water from the mouth of some statue of stone in a fountain.

And she had her reward. For when the hymn was done and at length she ventured to raise her eyes, she saw both mother and babe fast asleep. Her heart ascended on a wave of thanks to the giver of song. She rose softly, crept from the house, and hastened home to tell her mother what she had heard and seen. The same afternoon a basket of nice things arrived at the shop for the poor lodger in the top room.

The Raymounts did not relax their care until the woman was fairly on her feet again. And not till then did a day pass when Hester did not see her and sing to her and her baby. Several times she dressed the child, singing to him all the time. It was generally in the morning she went, because then she was almost sure to find them alone. Of the father she had seen next to nothing. All she had ever had time to see was that he was a man of middle height, with a strong face and frame, dressed like a workman. His three elder boys always left with him in the morning. The eldest was about twelve, the youngest about seven. They were rather sickly looking, but had intelligent faces and inoffensive expressions.

Mrs. Baldwin continued to bear the family good witness. She said they never seemed to have much to eat, but said they paid their lodgings regularly, and she had nothing to complain of. The place had indeed been untidy at first, but as soon as the mother was about again, it began to improve, and now, really, for people in their position, it was wonderfully well kept.

—Nine —

A Private Exhibition

Hester had not been near the woman and her child for two or three days. Dusk was approaching, but she would just run across the square and down the street, and look in upon them for a moment. It was but a few steps, and she knew almost every house she had to pass.