Then she got in beside her and folded her little sister in her arms.

Directly a sense of safety and peace came over her when she felt the little snuggling thing, who had wakened just enough to murmur something unintelligible in her baby tongue, and cling close to her with all her little, rosy limbs, and thrust her head into the hollow of Maria's shoulder.

Then she gave a deep sigh and was soundly asleep again.

Maria lay awake a little while, enjoying that sense of peace and security which the presence of this little human thing she loved gave her.

Then she fell asleep herself.
She waked early.