Ellen hovered around her pillow as if she begrudged every moment that called her from her daughter’s side, and never seemed so well contented as when she was performing for her some office of love and tenderness.  A skilful nurse, she knew how to prepare the most delicate viands to tempt the failing appetite, and she had the exquisite pleasure of seeing her care and attention rewarded by the returning health and strength of her child.

One morning as she grew stronger, and was able to sit in her chair, she turned her eyes tenderly towards Ellen and said, “Mother, come and sit near me and let me hold your hand.”

“Mother,” Oh how welcome was that word.  Ellen’s eyes filled with sudden tears.

“Mother,” she said, “It comes back to me like a dream.  I have a faint recollection of having seen you before, but it is so long I can scarcely remember it.  Tell me all about myself and how I came to leave you.  I always thought that there was some mystery about me, but I never knew what it was before, but now I understand it.”

“Darling,” said the mother, “you had better wait till you get a little stronger, and then I will tell you all.”

“Very well,” said Minnie, “you have been so good to me and I am beginning to love you so much.”

It was touching to see the ripening love between those two long-suffering ones.  Ellen would comb Minnie’s hair, and do for her every office in her power.  Still Minnie continued feeble.  The suffering occasioned by her refusal of Louis; the hard study and deep excitement through which she had passed told sadly upon her constitution; but she was young, and having a large share of recuperative power she slowly came back to health and strength, and when the spring opened Thomas decided that she should return again to her school in P.

Chapter XII

Let us now return to Carrie Wise, whom we left parting with Minnie.

“Where is Minnie?” said two of her schoolmates, who observed that Carrie had come home alone.

“Oh,” said she, “one of the strangest things I ever heard of happened!”

“Well, what was it?” said the girls; and by this time they had joined another group of girls.

“Why this morning, Minnie and I walked out shopping, and just as I came out of Carruthers’ I met an old friend of mother’s, and stopped to speak with her, and I said ‘Minnie, just wait a minute.’”

“She passed on, and left me talking with Mrs. Jackson.  When I joined her, I found a colored woman talking to her, and she was trembling from head to foot, and just as pale as a ghost; and I said, ’Why, Minnie, what is the matter?’”

“She gasped for breath, and I thought she was going to faint, and I got real scared.  And what do you think Minnie said?”

“Why,” she said, “Carrie, this woman says she’s my mother!”

“Her mother!” cried a half dozen voices.  “Why you said she was colored!”