He went up to her, and she folded back the corner of a blanket, and revealed a face no bigger than that of the big doll at the clergyman's house, but alive, quite alive--such a pretty little face! He stood staring at it for a while.
"May I kiss her, nurse ?" "Yes--gently--quite gently." He kissed her, half afraid, he did not know of what.

Her cheek was softer and smoother than anything he had ever touched before.

He sped back to his mother, too full of delight to speak.

But she was not yet well enough to talk to him, and his father coming in, led him down-stairs again, where he began once more to watch the snow, wondering now if it had anything to do with baby's arrival.
In the afternoon, it was found that the lock of his mother's room not only would not catch easily, but made a noise that disturbed her.

So his father got a screwdriver and removed it, making as little noise as he could.