Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/162

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THE BOND

home, and Teresa allowed the baby to be brought in, at Mrs. Perry's demand.

"I've brought some things for him," said the lady. "Oh, what a darling!"

Teresa looked sceptically at the baby's mottled face, and at her visitor; but Mrs. Perry's expression, as she took the baby and tucked it up against her shoulder, and touched its fuzzy head with her cheek, silenced the sceptic. Teresa watched curiously. Mrs. Perry walked up and down the room with the baby, and then sat down, holding him as though he were made of delicate crystal.

"How warm and soft they are!" she breathed, her full-lidded dark eyes closing slowly. "I like that smell of warm flannel. They're just like little birds, all soft down! What a darling!"

Teresa said nothing. She was thoroughly surprised. When the nurse came to take the baby. Mrs. Perry produced her gift—two little dresses beautifully sewed by hand. "I made them every stitch myself for him," she said. Teresa was oddly touched by this. Alice had sent the baby an ivory with gold bells. Many other gifts had been sent to him, but no one else she knew had actually made anything for him. Mrs. Perry asked to see his bed and his wardrobe, and she turned over his tiny garments with caressing fingers. When she went away Teresa thought Mrs. Perry was going to offer to kiss her, but to