"Can you take off her frock ?" I asked, with another shake--a good one, this time.

The prospect of a domestic occupation (of any sort) appeared to rouse Mrs.Finch.She looked at the baby, in its cradle in one corner of the room, and at the novel, reposing on a chair in another corner of the room.

The presence of these two familiar objects appeared to encourage her.

She shivered, she swallowed a sob, she recovered her breath, she began to undo the frock.
"Put it away carefully," I said; "and say nothing to anybody of what has happened, until I come back.

You can see for yourself that the child is not hurt.