“ He says he can’t go off till you come,” Morel called downstairs.
“ Eh, dear! I shan’t be long. And do stop shouting downstairs. There’s the other children—”
Then Morel came again and crouched before the bedroom fire. He loved a fire dearly.
“ She says she won’t be long,” he said.
He loitered about indefinitely. The boy began to get feverish with irritation. His father’s presence seemed to aggravate all his sick impatience. At last Morel, after having stood looking at his son awhile, said softly:
“ Good-night, my darling.”
“ Good-night,” Paul replied, turning round in relief to be alone.
Paul loved to sleep with his mother. Sleep is still most perfect, in spite of hygienists, when it is shared with a beloved. The warmth, the security and peace of soul, the utter comfort from t
