What could he do--the father who had just given his children a new
mother, they being old enough not only to understand this, but
previously taught; as most people are so fatally ready to teach children,
the usual doctrine about step-mothers, and also quite ready to rebel
against the same?

The step-mother likewise, what could she do, even had she recognized
and felt all that the children's behavior implied?

Alas! (I say "alas!" for this was as sad a thing as the other) she did not
recognize it. She scarcely noticed it at all. In her countenance was no
annoyance--no sharp pain, that even in that first bridal hour she was not
first and sole, as every woman may righteously wish to be. There came
to her no sting of regret, scarcely unnatural, to watch another woman's
children already taking the first and best of that fatherly love which it
would be such exquisite joy to see lavished upon her own. Alas! poor
Christian! all these things passed over her as the wind passes over a
bare February tree, stirring no emotions, for there were none to stir.
Her predominating feeling was a vague sense of relief in the presence
of the children, and of delight in the exceeding beauty of the youngest.

"This is Oliver. I remember you told me his name. Will he come to
me? children generally do," said she in a shy sort of way, but still
holding out her arms. In her face and manner was that inexplicable
motherliness which some girls have even while nursing their dolls
--some never; ay, though they may boast of a houseful of children--
never!

Master Oliver guessed this by instinct, as children always do. He