By and by she had come back to them, and had taken the baby in her arms and lain down upon the bed.

She had never moved after that--not even when little Harry had called to her, and had lain crying and moaning on the floor.
The children thought she was asleep, and by and by Harry had gone to sleep too.

They had slept together on the floor, huddled together in helpless misery and confusion of mind, until awakened by the ceaseless wailing of the baby, which never roused their mother.

They were too much bewildered and weakened to make any attempt to call for help, and were just waiting for what would happen, when Gertrude had come amongst them like an angel of mercy.
Her tears fell fast as the story was told, but the children had shed all theirs.

They were comforted now, feeling as though something good had happened, and they crept about her and clung round her, begging her not to leave them.
Nor had she any wish to do so.