, so kind, so loving!

Hugh moved uneasily, and she bent over him; his lips moved. "Play!" said
the child.

"Dear!" said Hildegarde, softly. "My laddie! Do you want something?"

Hugh did not open his eyes, but a smile, or the shadow of a smile,
hovered about his lips for an instant.

"Play--Jack--play!" he whispered.

"Yes, dear! He shall come. We will send for him; rest now, my boy,
quietly!"

But now, seeing her mother at the door, Hildegarde stole softly to her,
and told of the whispered words. "Will you ask the doctor? He might--it
might--do him good, if he is thinking about it? You will see what is
best, dear!"

Mrs. Grahame nodded, and went away. An hour passed, as all the others
passed. Then Hildegarde heard steps on the veranda; the door opened and
closed quietly; the next moment the voice of the violin came stealing
through the house. Ah! what was it? Were angels singing the child to
sleep? Schubert's Cradle Song; there is no sweeter melody on earth, and
many times had Jack played little Hugh to sleep with it, in the days
before he went abroad. Hildegarde watched the child intently. At the
first note of the music he stirred, and opened and closed his hands,
which lay listless on the counterpane. Then, as the song flowed on, so
low, so tender, it seemed the voice of a spirit, or of some wandering
wind, caught and trained to melody; the brows which had been knitted, as
if in an effort to think, relaxed, a smile came to the sweet lips and
settled there happily.

"Schlafe, schlafe, suesser, holder Knabe!
Leise wiegt dich deiner Mutter Hand."

"Sing!" whispered Hugh; and Hildegarde sang, her heart beating high with
joy and hope; for this was the first time she had been sure of his
knowing her. She bent over him, hoping for a glance of recognition; but
he did not open his eyes. His face seemed to clear and lighten every
moment; it was as if a cloud were passing, and the day shining out fair
and lovely; but he turned his head drowsily, and whispered, "Sleepy!"

Now Jack was playing the Chopin _berceuse_, and all the world seemed
lulling to sleep; the sound floated in waves through the darkened room,
whispering in corners, rippling round the drowsy child, bearing him on,
away, through the gates of pearl, till now he was asleep, in no heavy
lethargy this time, but lying easily, breathing deeply, his whole little
form at rest, at peace. And seeing this, the weary girl beside him laid
her