"husband! dear husband!" said his wife, in a low voice, for she had been looking narrowly at the snow-child, and was more perplexed than ever, "there is something very singular in all this. you will think me foolish, but but may it not be that some invisible angel has been attracted by the simplicity and good faith with which our children set about their undertaking? may he not have spent an hour of his immortality in playing with those dear little souls? and so the result is what we call a miracle. no, no! do not laugh at me; i see what a foolish thought it is!"