Sorry for her past disgust, and feeling in her heart a new compassion for him, she bent her face to his, and kissed him as tenderly as ever she had kissed babe of her own.

With a startled look in his eyes, and a flush on his cheek, the boy gave her back a smile so sweet that she had never seen one like it before.

From that moment a wonderful change came over the child.

He understood the new affection that had come instead of dislike and loathing in the woman's heart.

That touch of human love transformed his peevish, fretful nature into gentle quiet and beauty.