We stood still again, listening, and all at once it came into my head to call, "Mother!"
"Yes—try that, Kitty!" says Mary.
"Mother!" I cried. "Mother! Mother!"
There was a step among the bushes near us.
"Mother," I cried; "oh, do come!"
No mistake about the step now. In one moment more mother herself came out from the bushes, walking straight towards us. The moon shone full on her face, and her eyes were wide open with an eager look.
"Is that little Kitty's voice?" says she. "Is Kitty in trouble?"
"Mother!" I said once more, and I went forward to meet her, while Mary held back.
"Why—Kitty!" says mother, a slow smile creeping over her face, and she put both arms round me. "Kitty!"
Anybody that's known what it is to crave and thirst for a mother's kiss, when that kiss can't be had, may guess how I felt to have mother's arms round me, hugging me in the old fashion, like as when I was a little child. She laid her cheek on mine, and made a little crooning sound, as if I was a baby again, and she petting me.