And I lay here with my baby on my arm alone. He did not mind who watched him, as he knitted his baby brows, and twisted his baby mouth, and clenched his harmless fists, till I laughed and cried together in indescribable delight. Then a change came over me. I wanted some one to share my happiness--to show my treasure to. Some one--oh, what cold words these were! I wanted one--only one--to make my joy perfect. My heart expanded over my baby, with such a sense of want, of incompleteness. I cried aloud, "Oh, Harry, Harry, Harry!" Where was the father to see and bless this child? This blessing which every other mother had, I had cast away from me. I could not put his infant into his arms--I could not watch the joy on his face to brighten the light upon my own. I wept now after another fashion. I turned my head aside that my tears might not fall upon my baby. "Oh, Harry, Harry!" I was content you should be away from me in the evil time, but it broke my heart to be alone in my deep great joy. Alice could not see how I had been moved when she returned. I took care to conceal my tearful eyes from her, and indeed it was not hard to return to gladness, looking upon the face of my child. She brought me a cup of tea, and pretended she had only gone away to fetch it. "I did, indeed, Miss Hester," she said, with a tearful smile that belied her; "though, to tell the truth, I _had_ a good cry when I got down-stairs. Dear, do but look at him, with his sweet little fist doubled. Will you beat your mamma already, baby boy, and a son too? Darling, I'm sure you don't know what to say for joy." "Oh, Alice, it is all beyond saying," said I; "I don't know why this should have come to me, when even you yourself--you who are always kindest, did not dare to ask a blessing for me; and after you said that, Alice, I never dared to ask one for myself." "I never meant that, Miss Hester," said Alice, humbly; "I _did_ crave for the blessing night and day, and here it is, bless his dear little heart; the sight of him brings back my pleasant days to me, dear. A woman never has such a joy as a baby. Do you shake your head at that, Miss Hester? My darling, you'll come to know." "I do know, Alice," I said under my breath; "I never was so happy before, nor so thankful, nor--so sad. If I do not die he will have nobody but me, and what can I do for him? Alice, did you think of what I told you to do? Do you remember, you were to write when all was over? I thought then I was sure to die."