"You taunt me with that," she said, in a whisper--"with that and everything." She buried her face in her crushed pillow again and burst into long wails.
Mrs.Ayres smoothed her hair.

"Lucy," said she, "listen.

I know what is going on within you as you don't know it yourself.

I know the agony of it as you don't know it yourself." "I'd like to know how." "Because you are my child; because I can hardly sleep for thinking of you; because every one of my waking moments is filled with you.

Lucy, because I am your mother and you are yourself.