Part 44 (1/2)
His nerves were at the breaking point and he spoke sharply.
”Why are you not in bed?” he asked.
”While--mommy-Lyn is--in--there?” gasped the girl, turning reproachful eyes up to him. ”How--could I?”
”How long have you been here?”
”Always; always!”
”Ann, you must go to your room at once! Come, I will go with you.” She rose and took his hand. There was fear in her eyes.
”Is--is mommy-Lyn--” she faltered, and Truedale understood.
”Good G.o.d!--no!” he replied; ”not that!”
”I was to--to stay close to you.” Ann was trembling as she walked beside him. ”She gave you--to me! She gave you to me--to keep for her!”
Truedale stopped short and looked at Ann. Confusedly he grasped the meaning of the tie that held this child to Lynda--that held them all to the strong, loving woman who was making her fight with death, for a life.
”Little Ann,” was all he could say, but he bent and kissed the child solemnly.
When morning dawned, Lynda came back--bringing her little son with her.
G.o.d had spoken!
Truedale, sitting beside her, one hand upon the downy head that had nearly cost so much, saw the mother-lips move.
”You--want--the baby?” he asked.
”I--I want little Ann.” Then the white lids fell, shutting away the weak tears.
”Lyn, the darling has been waiting outside your door all night--I imagine she is there now.”
”Yes, I know. I want her.”
”Are you able--just now, dear?”
”I--must have little Ann.”
So Ann came. She was white--very much awed; but she smiled. Lynda did not open her eyes at once; she was trying to get back some of the old self-control that had been so mercilessly shattered during the hours of her struggle, but presently she looked up.
”You--kept your word, Ann,” she said. Then: ”You--you made a place for my baby. Little Ann--kiss your--brother.”
They named the baby for William Truedale and they called him Billy, in deference to his pretty baby ways.
”He must be Uncle William's representative,” said Lynda, ”as Bobbie is the representative of Betty's little dead boy.”
”I often think of--the money, Lyn.” Truedale spoke slowly and seriously.
”How I hated it; how I tried to get rid of it! But when it is used rightly it seems to secure dignity for itself. I've learned to respect it, and I want our boy to respect it also. I want to put it on a firm foundation and make it part of Billy's equipment--a big trust for which he must be trained.”
”I think I would like his training to precede his knowledge of the money as far as possible,” Lynda replied. ”I'd like him to put up a bit of a fight--as his father did before him.”