Sentence:  Oh, it was a pretty sight to see this modest young creature, little more than a child herself, anticipating maternity, but blushing every now and then, and looking askant at her lord and master. How his very bowels <WSD>yearned</WSD> over her! 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To have strong feelings of love, sympathy, affection, etc. (toward someone).