The mother now seemed the more delightful because her motherhood had blossomed late.

Like all generous persons, she passed through sensitive phases of feeling that she mistook for remorse.
Believing that she had defrauded her children of the tenderness that should have been theirs, she sought to redeem those imaginary wrongs; bestowing attentions and tender cares which made her precious to them; she longed to make her children live, as it were, within her heart; to shelter them beneath her feeble wings; to cherish them enough in the few remaining days to redeem the time during which she had neglected them.
The sufferings of her mind gave to her words and her caresses a glowing warmth that issued from her soul.

Her eyes caressed her children, her voice with its yearning intonations touched their hearts, her hand showered blessings on their heads..