the two chairs were drawn against the wall, the table placed by the
bedside. The swinging-lantern was shaded towards the bed,--the object of
Rand's attention. On that bed, his brother's bed, lay a helpless woman,
pale from the long black hair that matted her damp forehead, and clung
to her hollow cheeks. Her face was turned to the wall, so that the
softened light fell upon her profile, which to Rand at that moment
seemed even noble and strong. But the next moment his eye fell upon the
shoulder and arm that lay nearest to him, and the little bundle, swathed
in flannel, that it clasped to her breast. His brow grew dark as
he gazed. The sleeping woman moved. Perhaps it was an instinctive
consciousness of his presence; perhaps it was only the current of
cold air from the opened door: but she shuddered slightly, and, still
unconscious, drew the child as if away from HIM, and nearer to her
breast. The shamed blood rushed to Rand's face; and saying half aloud,
"I'm not going to take your precious babe away from you," he turned in
half-boyish pettishness away. Nevertheless he came back again shortly to
the bedside, and gazed upon them both. She certainly did look altogether
more ladylike, and less aggressive, lying there so still: sickness, that
cheap refining process of some natures, was not unbecoming to her. But
this bundle! A boyish curiosity, stronger than even his strong objection
to the whole episode, was steadily impelling him to lift the blanket
from it. "I suppose she'd waken if I did," said Rand; "but I'd like to
know what right the doctor had to wrap it up in my best flannel shirt."
This fresh grievance, the fruit of his curiosity, sent him away again to
meditate on the ledge. After a few moments he returned again, opened the
cupboard at the foot of the bed softly, took thence a piece of chalk,
and scrawled in large letters upon the door of the cupboard, "If you
want anything, sing out: I'm just outside.--RAND." This done, he took a
blanket and bear-skin from the corner, and walked to the door. But here
he paused, looked back at the inscription (evidently not satisfied with