then I heard her voice. She had
thrown herself down at the piano and was singing gaily, ecstatically.

Approaching her in undisguised wonder at this new mood, I stood at
her back and listened. I do not suppose she had what is called a great
voice, but the feeling back of it at this moment of reaction gave it
a great quality. The piece--some operatic aria--was sung in a way to
thrill the soul. Opening with a burst, it ended with low notes of an
intense sweetness like sobs, not of grief, but happiness. In their midst
and while the tones sank deepest, a child's voice rose in the hall and
we heard, uttered at the very door:

"Mama busy; mama sing."

With a cry she sprang from the piano and, bounding to the door, flung it
open and caught her child in her arms.

"Darling! darling! my darling!" she exclaimed in a burst of
mother-rapture, crushing the child to her breast and kissing it
repeatedly.

Then she began to dance, holding the baby in her arms and humming a
waltz. As I stood on one side in my own mood of excited sympathy, I
caught fleeting glimpses of their two faces, as she went whirling about.
Hers was beautiful in her new relief--if it was a relief--the child's
dimpled with delight at the rapid movement--a lovely picture. Letty,
who stood waiting in the doorway, showed a countenance full of surprise.
Mrs. Packard was the first to feel tired. Stopping her dance, she peered
round at the baby's face and laughed.

"Was that good?" she asked. "Are you glad to have mama merry again? I am
going to be merry all the time now. With such a dear, dear dearie of a
baby, how can I help it?" And whirling about in my direction, she held
up the child for inspection, crying: "Isn't she a darling! Do you wonder
at my happiness?"

Indeed I did not; the sweet baby-face full of glee was irresistible; so
was the pat-pat of the two dimpled hands on her mother's shoulders. With
a longing all women can understand, I held out my own arms.

"I wonder if she will come to me?" said I.

But though I got a smile, the little hands closed still more tightly
round the mother's neck.

"Mama dear!" she cried, "mama dear!" and the tender emphasis on the
endearing word completed the charm. Tears sprang to Mrs. Packard's eyes,
and it was with difficulty that she passed the clinging child over to
the nurse waiting to take her out.

"That was the happiest moment of my life!" fell unconsciously from Mrs.
Packard's lips as the two disappeared; bu