Such was the helpless, tragic, kindly love and yearning of her.
* * * * * The thing filled her with a passion of tenderness for Hester Osborn.

She yearned over her, too.

Her spinster life had never brought her near to the mystery of birth.

She was very ignorant and deeply awed by the mere thought of it.

At the outset Hester had been coldly shy and reticent, but as they saw each other more she began to melt before the unselfish warmth of the other woman's overtures of friendship.