"I should like to kiss them for good-night, dear."
Nellie went up at once, and the little white-robed dressing-gowned flock stole in.
Mrs. Arundel kissed Netta first, and softly said, "God bless you, my child!" And she was immediately drawn away by a sign from her father.
So they were all kissed till it came to the baby's turn. Dr. Arundel took him from Mary, and lifted him over the bed.
"Let me hold him," she said, stretching out her arms.
She folded him in a close embrace, and it seemed as if her arms would never unclasp. "God bless my child!" she said at last, as she had done to the others, and let him go.
Dr. Arundel went with him to the door; then, unable to bear his grief, carried the child upstairs, and waited till he was calm.
When the little ones were gone, and the door had closed on them, their mother turned round in the bed and hid her face.
Tom lay with wide staring eyes, battling with himself to keep his promise, and succeeding; for when his mother put out her hand to take his, he was able to clasp it quietly and to whisper, "'He is able to keep;' mamma, dear."
"Yes," she answered with a sob; "able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day."