Possibly Clara might do the greater part of what she does, and do it better: but still, are they not her children?
Let those who will call a mother's care mere animal instinct, and liken it to that of the sparrow or the spider: shall we not rather call it a Divine inspiration, and doubt whether the sparrow and the spider must not have souls to be saved, if they, too, show forth that faculty of maternal love which is, of all human feelings, most inexplicable and most self-sacrificing; and therefore, surely, most heavenly?
If that does not come down straight from heaven, a "good and perfect gift," then what is heaven, and what the gifts which it sends down?
But poor Elsley may have had solid reasons for thinking more of the name of Thurnall than of his children's health: we will hope so for his sake; for, after sundry melodramatic pacings and starts (Elsley was of a melodramatic turn, and fond of a scene, even when he had no spectator, not even a looking-glass;) besides ejaculations of "It cannot be!" "If it were!" "I trust not!" "A fresh ghost to torment me!" "When will come the end of this accursed coil which I have wound round my life ?" and so forth, he decided aloud that the suspense was intolerable; and enclosing himself in his poetical cloak and Mazzini wide-awake, strode down to the town, and into the shop.

And as he entered it, "his heart sank to his midriff, and his knees below were loosed." For there, making up pills, in a pair of brown holland sleeves of his own manufacture (for Tom was a good seamster, as all travellers should be), whistled Lilliburlero, as of old, the Tom of other days, which Elsley's muse would fain have buried in a thousand Lethes.
Elsley came forward to the counter carelessly, nevertheless, after a moment.

"What with my beard, and the lapse of time," thought he, "he cannot know me." So he spoke,-- "I understand you have been visiting my children, sir.

I hope you did not find them seriously indisposed ?" "Mr.Vavasour ?" says Tom, with a low bow.
"I am Mr.Vavasour!" But Elsley was a bad actor, and hesitated and coloured so much as he spoke, that if Tom had known nothing, he might have guessed something.
"Nothing serious, I assure you, sir: unless you are come to announce any fresh symptom." "Oh, no--not at all--that is--I was passing on my way to the quay, and thought it as well to have your own assurance; Mrs.Vavasour is so over-anxious." "You seem to partake of her infirmity, sir," says Tom, with a smile and a bow.

"However, it is one which does you both honour." An awkward pause.
"I hope I am not taking a liberty, sir; but I think I am bound to--" "What in heaven is he going to say ?" thought Elsley to himself, feeling very much inclined to run away.
"Thank you for all the pleasure and instruction which your writings have given me in lonely hours, and lonely places too.