As soon as
she recovered, she cried out, "Oh where is he! bring him to me--let a
mother's eyes be blessed with his sight--let the yearnings of a mother's
heart be recompensed in his embraces--let the tears of affection be wept
upon his bosom."
"Calm yourself, my dear madam," replied I: "the proofs you have not yet
seen. First be satisfied, and then indulge in your delightful
anticipation. When I pressed Don Pedro upon the subject of his family, I
told him candidly that his only chance of success was unlimited
confidence: he acknowledged that he had been sent to the Asylum when an
infant, and that he did not know his parents; that the mystery and
consequent stigma on his birth had been a source of mortification to him
through life. I asked him if he knew his age, or had a copy of the
register of his reception. He took it out of a small cabinet; it was on
the 18th of February, in the same year that your child was sent there.
Still as I was not sure, I stated that I would call upon him this
morning, and see what could be done; assuring him that his candid avowal
had created strong interest in his favour. This morning I repaired to
the Asylum, when I examined the register. Two children were brought in
on that night: here is the extract, and I feel much mortified, as you
will observe, that no marks are mentioned. If, therefore, the wart you
spoke of was not still remaining, the uncertainty would have been as
great as ever. When I returned to him about an hour since, I renewed the
subject, and stated that I thought it was the custom to make a note of
any particular marks upon the children, by which they might be
eventually reclaimed.
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