Soon , however , the spectators saw a change upon her face as the consciousness of her sad estate returned , and grief supplied the fount of tears which joy had opened . By the words she uttered it would seem that the indulgence of natural love had given her mind a momentary sense of its errors , and made her know how far she had strayed from duty in following the dictates of a wild fanaticism . `` In a doleful hour art thou returned to me , poor boy , '' she said , `` for thy mother 's path has gone darkening onward , till now the end is death . Son , son , I have borne thee in my arms when my limbs were tottering , and I have fed thee with the food that I was fainting for ; yet I have ill-performed a mother 's part by thee in life , and now I leave thee no inheritance but woe and shame . Thou wilt go seeking through the world , and find all hearts closed against thee and their sweet affections turned to bitterness for my sake . My child , my child , how many a pang awaits thy gentle spirit , and I the cause of all ! '' She hid her face on Ilbrahim 's head , and her long raven hair , discolored with the ashes of her mourning , fell down about him like a veil . A low and interrupted moan was the voice of her heart 's anguish , and it did not fail to move the sympathies of many who mistook their involuntary virtue for a sin . Sobs were audible in the female section of the house , and every man who was a father drew his hand across his eyes . Tobias Pearson was agitated and uneasy , but a certain feeling like the consciousness of guilt oppressed him ; so that he could not go forth and offer himself as the protector of the child . Dorothy , however , had watched her husband 's eye . Her mind was free from the influence that had begun to work on his , and she drew near the Quaker woman and addressed her in the hearing of all the congregation . `` Stranger , trust this boy to me , and I will be his mother , '' she said , taking Ilbrahim 's hand . `` Providence has signally marked out my husband to protect him , and he has fed at our table and lodged under our roof now many days , till our hearts have grown very strongly unto him . Leave the tender child with us , and be at ease concerning his welfare . '' The Quaker rose from the ground , but drew the boy closer to her , while she gazed earnestly in Dorothy 's face . Her mild but saddened features and neat matronly attire harmonized together and were like a verse of fireside poetry . Her very aspect proved that she was blameless , so far as mortal could be so , in respect to God and man , while the enthusiast , in her robe of sackcloth and girdle of knotted cord , had as evidently violated the duties of the present life and the future by fixing her attention wholly on the latter . The two females , as they held each a hand of Ilbrahim , formed a practical allegory : it was rational piety and unbridled fanaticism contending for the empire of a young heart . `` Thou art not of our people , '' said the Quaker , mournfully .
`` No , we are not of your people , '' replied Dorothy , with mildness , `` but we are Christians looking upward XXXXX the same heaven with you .
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