bottturnedtogo.
“Butwhyareyougoing?ExcusemeifIwashhimwhilewetalk.”
“Ihavenothingmoretosay,”saidMissAbbott.AllshecoulddonowwastofindPhilip,confesshermiserabledefeat,andbidhimgoinhersteadandprosperbetter.Shecursedherfeeblenessshelongedtoexposeit,withoutapologiesortears.
“Oh,butstopamoment!”hecried.“Youhavenotseenhimyet.”
“IhaveseenasmuchasIwant,thankyou.”
Thelastwrappingslidoff.Heheldouttoherinhistwohandsalittlekickingimageofbronze.
“Takehim!”
Shewouldnottouchthechild.
“Imustgoatonce,”shecriedforthetears—thewrongtears—werehurryingtohereyes.
“Whowouldhavebelievedhismotherwasblonde?Forheisbrownallover—browneveryinchofhim.Ah,buthowbeautifulheis!Andheisminemineforever.Evenifhehatesmehewillbemine.HecannothelpitheismadeoutofmeIamhisfather.”
Itwastoolatetogo.Shecouldnottellwhy,butitwastoolate.SheturnedawayherheadwhenGinoliftedhissontohislips.Thiswassomethingtooremotefromtheprettinessofthenursery.ThemanwasmajestichewasapartofNatureinnoordinarylovescenecouldheeverbesogreat.Forawonderfulphysicaltiebindstheparentstothechildrenand—bysomesad,strangeirony—itdoesnotbinduschildrentoourparents.Forifitdid,ifwecouldanswertheirlovenotwithgratitudebutwithequallove,lifewouldlosemuchofitspathosandmuchofitssqualor,andwemightbewonderfullyhappy.Ginopassionatelyembracing,MissAbbottreverentlyavertinghereyes—bothofthemhadparentswhomtheydidnotlovesoverymuch.
“MayIhelpyoutowashhim?”sheaskedhumbly.
Hegaveherhissonwithoutspeaking,andtheykneltsidebyside,tuckinguptheirsleeves.Thechildhadstoppedcrying,andhisarmsandlegswereagitatedbysomeoverpoweringjoy.MissAbbotthadawoman’spleasureincleaninganything—moreespeciallywhenthethingwashuman.Sheunderstoodlittlebabiesfromlongexperienceinadistrict,andGinosoonceasedtogiveherdirections,andonlygaveherthanks.
“Itisverykindofyou,”hemurmured,“especiallyinyourbeautifuldress.Heisnearlycleanalready.Why,Itakethewholemorning!Thereissomuchmoreofababythanoneexpects.AndPerfettawasheshimjustasshewashesclothes.Thenhescreamsforhours.Mywifeistohavealighthand.Ah,howhekicks!Hashesplashedyou?Iamverysorry.”
“Iamreadyforasofttowelnow,”saidMissAbbott,whowasstrangelyexalte