God had set his holy seal upon her brow.

The Merciful, who delighteth in mercy, had marked her for his own.
"Ah, what a fearful contrast to that angelic face was the dark fierce countenance of Dinah North, scowling down upon the expiring saint, and holding in her arms the sinless babe of that sweet mother.
"Rachel Mornington's proud handsome features wore their usual stern expression, but her face was very pale, and her lips firmly compressed.
She held, or rather grasped me by the hand, as she led me up to the bed.
"'Is that my little Philip ?' said the dying woman in her usual sweet tones.

But the voice was so enfeebled by disease as to be scarcely audible.
"'It is my son, my lady,' replied Rachel, and her voice slightly faltered.
"'What says my love ?' asked Sir Alexander, raising his head from the bed-clothes in which his face had been buried to conceal his tears.
"'Lift the boy up to me, dearest Alick, that I may kiss him once more before I die.' "Sir Alexander lifted me into the bed beside her, and raised her up gently with his other arm, so that both she and I were encircled in his embrace.

My young heart beat audibly.

I heard Lady Moncton whisper to her husband.
"'Alexander, he is your child.