Part 52 (2/2)
”They don't know anything about it. Mrs. Winfield went away early this morning. Mr. Keggs said she had had a telephone call, Mrs. Porter is in Boston. She will be back to-day some time. What are we to do?”
”Do!” Kirk jumped up and began to pace the floor. ”I'll tell you what I'm going to do. Steve has taken the boy up to my shack in Connecticut.
I'm going there as fast as the auto can take me.”
”Steve's mad!”
”Is he? Steve's the best pal I've got. For two years I've been aching to get at this boy, and Steve has had the sense to show me the way.”
He went on as if talking to himself.
”Steve's a man. I'm just a fool who hangs round without the nerve to act. If I had had the pluck of a rabbit I'd have done this myself six months ago. But I've hung round doing nothing while that d.a.m.ned Porter woman played the fool with the boy. I'll be lucky now if he remembers who I am.”
He turned abruptly to Mamie.
”Mamie, you can tell them whatever you please when you get home. They can't blame you. It's not your fault. Tell them that Steve was acting for me with my complete approval. Tell them that the kid's going to be brought up right from now on. I've got him, and I'm going to keep him.”
Mamie had risen and was facing him, a very determined midget, pink and resolute.
”I'm not going home, Mr. Winfield.”
”What?”
”If you are going to Bill, I am coming with you.”
”Nonsense.”
”That's my place--with him.”
”But you can't. It's impossible.”
”Not more impossible than what has happened already.”
”I won't take you.”
”Then I'll go by train. I know where your house is. Steve told me.”
”It's out of the question.”
Mamie's Irish temper got the better of her professional desire to maintain the discreetly respectful att.i.tude of employee toward employer.
”Is it then? We'll see. Do you think I'm going to leave you and Steve to look after my Bill? What do men know about taking care of children?
You would choke the poor mite or let him kill himself a hundred ways.”
She glared at him defiantly. He glared back at her. Then his sense of humour came to his rescue. She looked so absurdly small standing there with her chin up and her fists clenched. He laughed delightedly. He went up to her and placed a hand on each of her shoulders, looking down at her. He felt that he loved her for her champions.h.i.+p of Bill.
”You're a brick, Mamie. Of course you shall come. We'll call at the house and you can pack your grip. But, by George, if you put that infernal thermometer in I'll run the automobile up against a telegraph-pole, and then Bill will lose us both.”
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