CHAPTER XII.

pressionsofaweatthepresentimentofsomePowerpresidingoverhislifeforhisimaginationhadnotyetextricateditselffromthesenseofmysteryinthechild’ssuddenpresence,andhadformednoconjecturesofordinarynaturalmeansbywhichtheeventcouldhavebeenbroughtabout. Buttherewasacryonthehearth:thechildhadawaked,andMarnerstoopedtoliftitonhisknee.Itclungroundhisneck,andburstlouderandlouderintothatminglingofinarticulatecrieswith“mammy”bywhichlittlechildrenexpressthebewildermentofwaking.Silaspressedittohim,andalmostunconsciouslyutteredsoundsofhushingtenderness,whilehebethoughthimselfthatsomeofhisporridge,whichhadgotcoolbythedyingfire,woulddotofeedthechildwithifitwereonlywarmedupalittle. Hehadplentytodothroughthenexthour.Theporridge,sweetenedwithsomedrybrownsugarfromanoldstorewhichhehadrefrainedfromusingforhimself,stoppedthecriesofthelittleone,andmadeherliftherblueeyeswithawidequietgazeatSilas,asheputthespoonintohermouth.Presentlysheslippedfromhiskneeandbegantotoddleabout,butwithaprettystaggerthatmadeSilasjumpupandfollowherlestsheshouldfallagainstanythingthatwouldhurther.Butsheonlyfellinasittingpostureontheground,andbegantopullatherboots,lookingupathimwithacryingfaceasifthebootshurther.Hetookheronhiskneeagain,butitwassometimebeforeitoccurredtoSilas’sdullbachelormindthatthewetbootswerethegrievance,pressingonherwarmankles.Hegotthemoffwithdifficulty,andbabywasatoncehappilyoccupiedwiththeprimarymysteryofherowntoes,invitingSilas,withmuchchuckling,toconsiderthemysterytoo.ButthewetbootshadatlastsuggestedtoSilasthatthechildhadbeenwalkingonthesnow,andthisrousedhimfromhisentireoblivionofanyordinarymeansbywhichitcouldhaveenteredorbeenbroughtintohishouse.Underthepromptingofthisnewidea,andwithoutwaitingtoformconjectures,heraisedthechildinhisarms,andwenttothedoor.Assoonashehadopenedit,therewasthecryof“mammy”again,whichSilashadnotheardsincethechild’sfirsthungrywaking.Bendingforward,hecouldjustdiscernthemarksmadebythelittlefeetonthevirginsnow,andhefollowedtheirtracktothefurzebushes.“Mammy!”thelittleonecriedagainandagain,stretchingitselfforwardsoasalmosttoescapefromSilas’sarms,beforehehimselfwasawarethattherewassomethingmorethanthebushbeforehim—thattherewasahumanbody,withtheheadsunklowinthefurze,andhalf-coveredwiththeshakensnow.