I spoke not for some minutes, although I was not altogether unprepared for a communication of this nature.
"You will take the child to her, madam; she will wish to see him."
"Oh, sir, she has seen him every day since she came here, and he is with her now. You will not be offended, sir, if I tell you that she has seen him many times within the last two years. Yes, sir, when you were——"
"Mad, madam!—speak plainly!—I was mad."
"She came, sir, to me, and fell at my feet, imploring to see the child, and I could not refuse her. I could not bear that my mistress should kneel to me, and not be permitted to behold her own son;" and here the woman wept bitterly.
"It is very well," said I, after a pause; "I do not blame you. It is better, perhaps, that it should have been so."
"Could I prevail upon you, sir?" she continued, wiping her eyes; "might I be so bold as to hope——"
I anticipated the woman's thoughts.
"She has expressed no wish that I should see her, Mrs. Martin."
"She does not mention your name even to me," said she; "but she must not die without seeing you;—she must not, Mr. Saville."