"Do not,pray do not leave us,"John entreated;"Ursula wants to show you our little lady."My father put out his hands in deprecation;or as if desiring to thrust from him a host of thronging,battling thoughts.Still,came faintly down at intervals the tiny voice,dropping into a soft coo of pleasure,like a wood-dove in its nest--every mother knows the sound.
And then Mrs.Halifax entered holding in her arms her little winter flower,her baby daughter.
Abel Fletcher just looked at it and her--closed his eyes against both,and looked no more.
Ursula seemed pained a moment,but soon forgot it in the general admiration of her treasure.
"She might well come in a snow-storm,"said Mrs.Jessop,taking the child."She is just like snow,so soft and white.""And as soundless--she hardly ever cries.She just lies in this way half the day over,cooing quietly,with her eyes shut.There,she has caught your dress fast.Now,was there ever a two months'old baby so quick at noticing things?and she does it all with her fingers--she touches everything;--ah!take care,doctor,"the mother added,reproachfully,at a loud slam of the door,which made the baby tremble all over.
"I never knew a child so susceptible of sounds,"said John,as he began talking to it and soothing it;--how strange it was to see him!and yet it seemed quite natural already."I think even now she knows the difference between her mother's voice and mine;and any sudden noise always startles her in this way.""She must have astonishingly quick hearing,"said the doctor,slightly annoyed.Ursula wisely began to talk of something else--showed Muriel's eyelashes,very long for such a baby--and descanted on the colour of her eyes,that fruitful and never-ending theme of mothers and friends.
"I think they are like her father's;yes,certainly like her father's.But we have not many opportunities of judging,for she is such a lazy young damsel,she hardly ever opens them--we should often fancy her asleep,but for that little soft coo;and then she will wake up all of a sudden.There now!do you see her?Come to the window,my beauty!and show Dr.Jessop your bonny brown eyes."They were bonny eyes!lovely in shape and colour,delicately fringed;but there was something strange in their expression--or rather,in their want of it.Many babies have a round,vacant stare--but this was no stare,only a wide,full look--a look of quiet blankness--an UNSEEING look.
It caught Dr.Jessop's notice.I saw his air of vexed dignity change into a certain anxiety.
"Well,whose are they like--her father's or mine?His,I hope--it will be the better for her beauty.Nay,we'll excuse all compliments.""I--I can't exactly tell.I could judge better by candlelight.""We'll have candles."
"No--no!Had we not better put it off altogether,till another day?--I'll call in to-morrow and look at her eyes."His manner was hesitating and troubled.John noticed it.
"Love,give her to me.Go and get us lights,will you?"When she was gone,John took his baby to the window,gazed long and intently into her little face,then at Dr.Jessop."Do you think--no--it's not possible--that there can be anything the matter with the child's eyes?"Ursula coming in,heard the last words.
"What was that you said about baby's eyes?"
No one answered her.All were gathered in a group at the window,the child being held on her father's lap,while Dr.Jessop was trying to open the small white lids,kept so continually closed.At last the baby uttered a little cry of pain--the mother darted forward,and clasped it almost savagely to her breast.
"I will not have my baby hurt!There is nothing wrong with her sweet eyes.Go away;you shall not touch her,John.""Love!"
She melted at that low,fond word;leaning against his shoulder--trying to control her tears.
"It shocked me so--the bare thought of such a thing.Oh!husband,don't let her be looked at again.""Only once again,my darling.It is best.Then we shall be quite satisfied.Phineas,give me the candle."The words--caressing,and by strong constraint made calm and soothing--were yet firm.Ursula resisted no more,but let him take Muriel--little,unconscious,cooing dove!Lulled by her father's voice she once more opened her eyes wide.Dr.Jessop passed the candle before them many times,once so close that it almost touched her face;but the full,quiet eyes,never blenched nor closed.He set the light down.
"Doctor!"whispered the father,in a wild appeal against--ay,it was against certainty.He snatched the candle,and tried the experiment himself.
"She does not see at all.Can she be blind?""Born blind."
