"I wish she might stay with me—just this one night; and to-morrow is my birthday. Please, mother, may she stay?"
"We will both stay, my darling. I shall not leave you again."
"I am so glad;" and once more she turned round, as if to go to sleep.
"Are you tired, my pet?" said John, looking intently at her.
"No, father."
"Shall I take your brothers down-stairs?"
"Not yet, dear father."
"What would you like, then?"
"Only to lie here, this Sunday evening, among you all."
He asked her if she would like him to read aloud? as he generally did on Sunday evenings.