CHAPTER XLVII.
THREE HEARTS GO OUT TO LITTLE EDDIE.
Eddie only turned his beautiful head on the cushion, and went to sleep again, with soft murmurs and a deeper breath.
“Shall I kiss him once more?” inquired Elsie, lifting her large, pleading eyes to Catharine. “You don’t think it troubles him?”
“No, he will awake next time.”
Elsie bent down and pressed her lips like a burning seal upon the child’s forehead, which flushed crimson beneath the pressure. He awoke with a faint struggle, and starting up, began to rub his eyes with both hands.
“Edward—Eddie!” exclaimed the widow.
The child scrambled up from the cushions as if to run toward her.
“Mamma, my own mamma!”
Elsie’s face darkened like a thunder-cloud; her pale lips began to quiver, and she made a dart forward with her hand.
The child shrunk back on the cushions, frightened.