Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/308

280 first intimation I had, of being likely to make that offer, was the sound of my own voice, and the discovery that the offer had been made. The servant paused, doubtfully glancing from her charge to me, and then back again to the child. "Would you like it, dear ?" she asked her. But no such doubt appeared to cross the child’s mind : she lifted her arms eagerly to be taken up. "Please!" was all she said, while a faint smile flickered on the weary little face. I took her up with scrupulous care, and her little arm was at once clasped trustfully round my neck.

She was a very light weight——so light, in fact, that the ridiculous idea crossed my mind that it was rather easier going up, with