"
"That's fine. You're getting right well. Will you be very good and
quiet--not a bit excited, if I let some one else bring you your
supper?"
She beamed upon him so joyously that he exclaimed aloud, with a rush
of tears, "Ah! mother?"
The girl nodded and said, "Now remember, don't break her heart by
being worse."
"Oh, how sweet and lovely of her! I'll get well now, sure."
"That's a nice way to treat your old nurse."
Smilingly he held out his hand and said, "You are almost as pretty
and good as she is, but you aren't mother." Then he added in strong
sympathy, "Forgive me. You haven't any, have you? You don't know
about this mother love."
"I know enough about it to have the heartache for its lack. Now you
must save your strength till she comes. Good-by."
From that hour he steadily gained, banishing the look of anxiety
from his mother's face. Mrs. Whately sighed as she saw how her
niece's heart warmed toward the stranger, and how strong an
attachment was growing between them. "Louise is drifting away from
us all," she thought, "yet I cannot see that she encourages Captain
Maynard.
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