'
It was the sympathy Albinia cared for, come back again! 'I hope he
will be a good brother to you,' she said.
'He must be good! he can't help it! He has you!' said Gilbert.
'See, he is opening his eyes--oh! how blue! May I touch him?'
'To be sure you may. He is not sugar,' said Albinia, laughing.
'There--make an arm; you may have him if you like. Your left arm,
you awkward man. Yes, that is right. You will do quite as well as
I, who never touched a baby till Willie was born. There, sir, how do
you like your brother Gilbert?'
Gilbert held him reverently, and gave him back with a sigh when he
seemed to have satiated his gaze and touch, and convinced himself
that his new possession was substantial. 'I say,' he added
wistfully, 'did you think _that_ name would bring ill-luck?
She knew the name he meant, and answered, 'No, but your father could
not have borne it. Besides, Gibbie, we would not think him _instead_
of Edmund. No, he shall learn, to look up to his other brother as
you do, and look to meeting and knowing him some day.'
Gilbert shivered at this, and made no opposition to her carrying him
downstairs to his uncle, and then Gilbert hurried off for the basket
of snowdrops that he had gathered early, from a favourite spot at
Fairmead. That short absence seemed to have added double force to
his affection; he could hardly bear to be away from her, and every
moment when he could gain her ear, poured histories of the delights
of Fairmead, where Mr.
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