? ? ? ? It seemed final. Wharton stepped forward, but the priest waved him back.
? ? ? ? 'You have wished for children?'
? ? ? ? A silent 'Yes.'
? ? ? ? 'And prayed for them?'
? ? ? ? 'Often.'
? ? ? ? 'And have you thought, if you should have children?' Father Roubeau's eyes rested for a moment on the man by the window.
? ? ? ? A quick light shot across her face. Then the full import dawned upon her. She raised her hand appealingly, but he went on.
? ? ? ? 'Can you picture an innocent babe in your arms,' A boy? The world is not so hard upon a girl. Why, your very breast would turn to gall! And you could be proud and happy of your boy, as you looked on other children?-'
? ? ? ? 'O, have pity! Hush!'
? ? ? ? 'A scapegoat-'
? ? ? ? 'Don't! don't! I will go back!' She was at his feet.
? ? ? ? 'A child to grow up with no thought of evil, and one day the world to fling a tender name in his face. A child to look back and curse you from whose loins he sprang!'
? ? ? ? 'O my God! my God!'
? ? ? ? She groveled on the floor.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131