The room was small, perhaps close, but scrupulously clean; for cleanliness was Mrs.Roger Morton's capital virtue.

The mother, with a tremulous hand, drew aside the white curtains, and checked her sobs as she gazed on the young quiet face that was turned towards her.

She gazed some moments in passionate silence; who shall say, beneath that silence, what thoughts, what prayers moved and stirred! Then bending down, with pale, convulsive lips she kissed the little hands thrown so listlessly on the coverlet of the pillow on which the head lay.

After this she turned her face to her brother with a mute appeal in her glance, took a ring from her finger--a ring that had never till then left it--the ring which Philip Beaufort had placed there the day after that child was born.

"Let him wear this round his neck," said she, and stopped, lest she should sob aloud, and disturb the boy.