Natalia had stopped to look at Raymond, and, from time to time, she laughingly made a face at the infant, who ceaselessly moved his limbs as if to free himself from his bandages. A caprice seized her:
"I want to take him in my arms!"
She noisily insisted on having him. She put forth all her strength to carry her burden, and her face grew serious as if she were playing at being mother with her doll.
"My turn now!" cried Maria.
The odious little brother passed from one to the other without crying. But suddenly, while Maria walked around with him under the watchful eyes of Miss Edith, he lost his equilibrium and was about to slip from the hands that held him. Edith caught him, took him, gave him back to the nurse, who seemed profoundly absorbed, far from all persons and surrounding things.
Following my secret thought, I said:
"So it's to-night that the nine days' prayers begin?"
"Yes, to-night."
I looked at Anna, who seemed startled out of her torpor, and paid unusual attention to the conversation.
"How many mountaineers came?"