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Taylor, Bayard, 1825-1878

"Beauty and the Beast, and Tales of Home"


But her will, fortunately, was as faint as her consciousness; she
gradually drifted out of danger, taking her returning strength with
a passive acquiescence rather than with joy. She was hardly paler
than her wont, but the lurking shadow seemed to have vanished from
her eyes, and John Vincent felt that her features had assumed a new
expression, the faintly perceptible stamp of some spiritual change.

It was a happy day for him when, propped against his breast and
gently held by his warm, strong arm, the twin boys were first
brought to be laid upon her lap. Two staring, dark-faced
creatures, with restless fists and feet, they were alike in every
least feature of their grotesque animality. Phebe placed a hand
under the head of each, and looked at them for a long time in
silence.
"Why is this?" she said, at last, taking hold of a narrow pink
ribbon, which was tied around the wrist of one.
"He's the oldest, sure," the nurse answered. "Only by fifteen
minutes or so, but it generally makes a difference when twins come
to be named; and you may see with your own eyes that there's no
telling of 'em apart otherways.


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