"Let me take him, papa," she said. The father had no intention of giving up the child. But before he knew, Mark had stretched his arms to Hester, and was out of his into hers. Instinctively trying to retain him, he hurt him, and the boy gave a little cry. Thereupon with a new pang of pain, and a new sting of resentment, which he knew unreasonable but could not help, he let him go and followed in distressed humiliation. Hester's heart was very sore because of this new grief, but she saw some hope in it. "He is too heavy for you, Hester," said her father. "Surely as it is my fault, I ought to bear the penalty!" "It's no penalty--is it, Markie?" said Hester merrily. "No, Hessie," replied Mark, almost merrily. "--You don't know how strong Hessie is, papa!" "Yes, I am very strong. And you ain't heavy--are you, Markie?" "No," answered Mark; "I feel so light sometimes, I think I could fly; only I don't like to try for fear I couldn't. I like to think perhaps I could." By and by Hester found, with all her good will, that her strength was of the things that can be shaken, and was obliged to yield him to her father. It was much to his relief, for a sense of moral weakness had invaded him as he followed his children: he was rejected of his family, and had become a nobody in it! When at length they reached home, Mark was put to bed, and the doctor sent for. CHAPTER LIV. MOTHER AND SON. In the meantime Cornelius kept his bed. The moment her husband was gone, his mother rose and hastened to her son! Here again was a discord! for the first time since their marriage, a jarring action: the wife was glad the husband was gone that she might do what was right without annoying him: with all her strength of principle, she felt too weak to go openly against him, though she never dreamt of concealing what she did. She tottered across his floor, threw herself on the bed beside him, and took him to her bosom.