“You do not love babies, Raymond; no, not even your _own_, not even these beautiful cherubs; alas! I have not _that_ to learn now! but, Raymond, _I_ love them as the tigress loves her young, and as the soul loves her angels, and soul from body could be severed with less of pain and less of regret than these children from my bosom. Raymond, I know your indomitable strength of will; alas! I have not _that_ to learn either! I know your persevering inflexibility of purpose, and the power of carrying your purpose into effect. I know that when you make a proposition, or express a wish, you virtually _give a command_! and one you mean to have obeyed. I know all this, and I know, Raymond, your power of torturing me, do I not? I know that this hour is opened a controversy between us in which _you_ will never yield, never to my _opposition_, never to my prayers; never, unless I can awaken your parental love. Oh! Raymond, where in your soul slumbers this parental love—_sleeps_ your parental love in such a death-like sleep that the innocence and beauty of these children cannot awaken it—look at your children, Raymond, and withdraw your proposition, your command rather!” pleaded Hagar, with clasped hands and straining eyes. “Do not separate this beautiful little family, this perfect little family that we four form.” He composedly resumed his seat, looking quietly at her while she spoke; when she had ceased, he said, “Hagar, I make you a proposition, give you what I think a sufficient reason, and you answer me with a torrent of sentimental rhapsody; now have you said all that you have to say in opposition to my wishes? Come, I await your reply.” “‘Said all I have to say!’ Oh, I could talk a month, a year, until time exhausted the subject, if it would convince you.” “But it will not, as you rightly guess, my love, for now what does it all amount to, after all that you may have to say, is said? The question simply resolves itself into this: whether you will comply with my wishes, or defy the consequences of a non-compliance.” She dropped her head upon the side of the crib, and remained silent for some moments, and then, without raising it, she said, “Raymond, please tell me _why_, give me some reason for your wish to have the children sent away?” “Your health and beauty are decaying.” “But they are not!—they are not! You are _utterly_ mistaken. God knows that you are!” “You are feverish and excitable.” “Not feverish—it is the overflowing exuberance of health and joy!”