I heard baby's voice outside. Alice was looking for me. I ran from him, opened the door, took my beautiful boy out of the arms of Alice and brought him in, and held him out to Mr. Osborne--his face brightened into the pleasantest smiles I had ever seen upon it. "Ah, this is your bitter lesson, is it, young mother?" he said, laying his hand caressingly on my head, while he bent to look at my boy; "this life is something more than hard which yields such blossoms, Hester--is that what this famous argument of yours would say? and this irresistible piece of logic is a boy, is he? God bless you, little man, and make you the happiest of your race." "I must go away, Mr. Osborne, baby wants me," said I. "Yes, go away; I am quite contented, Hester," said Mr. Osborne, once more patting my head; "go away, my dear child--you are going to cheat me once more into entire approval, I can see." I was pleased; yet I went away with a heavy heart, under my first flush of gratification. I could not help remembering again and again what he had said--it was easy to make misery, but who should mend it when it was made! Oh, my boy, my baby! what a disturbed and troubled heart you laid your little head upon! but its wild and painful beating never woke or startled you. After dinner, when Flora and I were by ourselves in the drawing-room, we had our parcels in and examined them once more--such quantities of bright ribbons and pretty cotton frocks! Flora, though much delighted, was not quite confident that she had been right--she was afraid mamma would think it was a great shame to let cousin Hester put herself to all this trouble, "and expense too," said Flora, looking doubtfully up at me, "and all for my school-children at Ennerdale. I am so much afraid I was very wrong to tell you of it, and what will mamma say?" "Who can we get to make them, Flora?" said I. "That is just what I was thinking of," said Flora, immediately diverted from her self-reproaches; "Mamma's maid is a famous dressmaker, and I can cut out things very well myself, and they might have a holiday and meet in the schoolroom, and all of us work at them together; there is Mary and Janna and Lettie from the hall, and our own Annie and Edie, and myself; and oh, cousin Hester, would you come?" "I should like to come," said I, "but what shall I do with baby? and I am too old, Flora, for you and your bridesmaidens; I am more fit to stay beside mamma." Flora threw her arms round me caressingly, and a voice behind me said, "Does Hester say she is old? Do not believe her, Miss Ennerdale, she is a true girl at heart and nothing better--growing younger every day--though you never were very mature nor experienced, Hester, I must say that for you," and Mr. Osborne came forward very affectionately and stood by my side.