In that gloom she sat alone.
Suddenly a prayer was in her heart.

It was moving there as of itself.
It had come there by no calling of it thither, by no conscious will of hers.

"O God," she cried, "I am desolate!--Is there no help for me ?" And therewith she knew that she had prayed, and knew that never in her life had she prayed before.
She started to her feet in an agony: a horrible fear had taken possession of her.

With one arm she held the child fast to her bosom, with the other hand searched in vain to find a match.

And still, as she searched, the baby seemed to grow heavier upon her arm, and the fear sickened more and more at her heart.
At last she had light! and the face of the child came out of the darkness.