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Christian's Mistake by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
page 43 of 257 (16%)
gloomy old monks have said, could they have seen the Master of Saint
Bede's, with all his children round him, hugging him, kissing him,
chattering to him, while he hung over them in an absorption of
enjoyment so deep that, for a moment, Christian was unnoticed? But
only for a moment; and he turned to where she stood, a little aloof,
looking on, half sadly, and yet with beaming, kindly eyes. Her husband
caught her hand and drew her nearer.

"Children, you remember this lady. She was very good to you one day
lately. And now I want you to be very good to her."

"Oh yes," cried Oliver, putting up his mouth at once for a kiss. "I like
her very much. Who is she? What is her name?"

Children ask sometimes the simplest, yet the most terrible of questions.
This one seemed literally impossible to be answered. Dr. Grey tried,
and caught sight of his daughter's face--the mouth pursed into that hard.
line which made her so exactly like her mother. Arthur, too, looked
sullen and shy. Nobody spoke but little. Oliver, who, in his innocent,
childish way, pulling Christian's dress, repeated again, "What is your
name? What must Olly call you?"

Whatever she felt, her husband must have felt and known that this was
the critical moment which, once let slip, might take years afterward to
recall. He said, nervously enough, but with a firmness that showed he
must already have well considered the subject,

"Call her mamma."

There was no reply. Christian herself was somewhat startled, but
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