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I ran down to hiain "And you have a son!"

"A son!" he whispered "A son!"

He heldmine "Catherine is well?"

"Yes, yes, John, she is quite well! Soon you can go in to see her and your son!" I hurried into the drawing roolasses, the neck of the carafe rattling against the rims "Come, John, let us drink! I for one can stand a bit of fortifying!" I said

A short while later, the doctor ca hi already and the infant was hardy I could see that John was burning with impatience; I went back up the stairs to see if the midas finished with Cathy and to help her with her toilet

She was sitting against pillows in the bed, with the bairn at her breast I stopped short,in my throat I had never seen her so beautiful She looked at el's

"Look at him, Jessie! Already he suckles!" she exclaiht

"What a little man he is! What a little champion!"

I approached the bed slowly The bairn's head was covered with black hair; his tiny hand was clenched in a dark red fist against Cathy's white skin His jaorked strongly, clutching and pulling at her breast I knelt on the stool by the bed and leanedat the child "Oh, Cathy, he is beautiful," I said "So beautiful"

Her hand reached up and pattedwith me, Jessie, dear Thank you"

"I shall comb your hair for you when you are finished," I said "And then, Cathy dear, Iat the child

"Yes, Ithe only excuse I could think of; but I didn't believe that she heard me Her ears heard only the soft sounds of her child; her heart was too full to notice rateful

When I came out to invite John in, he bounded up the stairs His tre hand squeezed mine briefly; I opened the door to let him in As I looked into the rooelic than ever; John rushed forward and fell to his knees beside the bed, taking her hand, and his head dropped His shoulders shook so that I knew he ; I took one more look and closed the door