Part 33 (1/2)

At last the poor thin lips curved a little, crus.h.i.+ng out the lines of suffering, and into the eyes there came a loving glance in place of the fixed, wondering look that was almost a stare. A slight lifting of the hands, a motion of the head, a thrill through the whole body came next, and then a tender cooing sound.

”Did you ever see such beautiful eyes?” said the woman. ”It will be a splendid baby when it has picked up a little.”

”Let it pick up as fast as it can,” returned Pinky; ”but mind what I say: you are to be mum. Here's your pay for the first week, and you shall have it fair and square always. Call it your own baby, if you will, or your grandson. Yes, that's better. He's the child of your dead daughter, just sent to you from somewhere out of town. So take good care of him, and keep your mouth shut. I'll be round again in a little while.”

And with this injunction Pinky went away. On the next Thursday she visited the St. John's mission sewing-school in company with the little girl from Grubb's court, but greatly to her disappointment, Edith did not make her appearance. There were four or five ladies in attendance on the school, which, under the superintendence of one of them, a woman past middle life, with a pale, serious face and a voice clear and sweet, was conducted with an order and decorum not often maintained among a cla.s.s of children such as were there gathered together.

It was a long time since Pinky had found herself so repressed and ill at ease. There was a spiritual atmosphere in the place that did not vitalize her blood. She felt a sense of constriction and suffocation.

She had taken her seat in the cla.s.s taught usually by Edith, with the intention of studying that young lady and finding out all she could about her, not doubting her ability to act the part in hand with perfect self-possession. But she had not been in the room a minute before confidence began to die, and very soon she found herself ill at ease and conscious of being out of her place. The bold, bad woman felt weak and abashed. An unseen sphere of purity and Christian love surrounded and touched her soul with as palpable an impression as outward things give to the body. She had something of the inward distress and pain a devil would feel if lifted into the pure air of heaven, and the same desire to escape and plunge back into the dense and impure atmosphere in which evil finds its life and enjoyment. If she had come with any good purpose, it would have been different, but evil, and only evil, was in her heart; and when this felt the sphere of love and purity, her breast was constricted and life seemed going out of her.

It was little less than torture to Pinky for the short time she remained. As soon as she was satisfied that Edith would not be there, she threw down the garment on which she had been pretending to sew, and almost ran from the room.

”Who is that girl?” asked the lady who was teaching the cla.s.s, looking in some surprise after the hurrying figure.

”It's Pinky Swett,” answered the child from Grubb's court. ”She wanted to see our teacher.”

”Who is your regular teacher?” was inquired.

”Don't remember her name.”

”It's Edith,” spoke up one of the girls. ”Mrs. Martin called her that.”

”What did this Pinky Swett want to see her about?”

”Don't know,” answered the child as she remembered the money Pinky had given her and the promise of more.

The teacher questioned no further, but went on with her work in the cla.s.s.

CHAPTER XVI.

_IT_ was past midday when Mr. Dinneford returned home after his fruitless search. Edith, who had been waiting for hours in restless suspense, heard his step in the hall, and ran down to meet him.

”Did you see the baby?”' she asked, trying to keep her agitation down.

Mr. Dinneford only shook his head,

”Why, not, father?” Her voice choked.

”It could not be found.”

”You saw Mr. Paulding?”

”Yes.”

”Didn't he find the baby?”

”Oh yes. But when I went to Grubb's court this morning, it was not there, and no one could or would give any information about it. As the missionary feared, those having possession of the baby had taken alarm and removed it to another place. But I have seen the mayor and some of the police, and got them interested. It will not be possible to hide the child for any length of time.”

”You said that Mr. Paulding saw it?”