"Not exactly sick, my darlings," he said, "but very much worn out. We must let her rest."
"Can't we see her? can't we go to her?"
"Not now, not to-night, I think. I left her sleeping, and hope she will not wake for some hours."
At that the little ones seemed nearly heartbroken. "How could they go to their beds without seeing mamma?"
But Elsie comforted them. She would help mammy to put them to bed; and oh it was the best of news that dear mamma was sleeping! because if she did not she would soon be quite ill.
Molly Percival, because of her crippled condition, making locomotion so difficult, seldom joined the family at table, but took her meals in her own room, a servant waiting upon her and her mother, who, in her new devotion to poor Molly, preferred to eat with her.
The appointments of their table were quite as dainty as those of the other, the fare never less luxurious.
A very tempting repast was spread before them to-night, but Molly could not eat for weeping.
Her mother, tasting one dish after another with evident enjoyment, at length thought fit to expostulate with her.
"Molly, why do you cry so? I do wish you would stop it and eat your supper."