Ha! I believe you have thought of it yourself ?" "I have thought of it." "What did I say?
You poor little prisoner, you _have_ the right spirit in you! I wish I could give you some of my strength." The half-mocking tone in which she spoke, suddenly failed her.

Her piercing eyes grew dim; the hard lines in her face softened.

She dropped on her knees, and wound her lithe arms round Carmina, and kissed her.

"You sweet child!" she said--and burst passionately into tears.
Even then, the woman's fiercely self-dependent nature asserted itself.
She pushed Carmina back on the sofa.

"Don't look at me! don't speak to me!" she gasped.