Part 32 (1/2)

”Come, Laura! Come!”

But Clare would not go. ”Yes, come--and let her wreak her meanness on Miss Milo! No! Here's a sample of what you're going to get, Alan, for insisting on my going to that Rectory. So you'd better hear it. I told you the plan is a mistake.” And to Mrs. Milo, ”Let's hear what you've got to say.”

Righteous virtue glittered in the blue eyes. ”I've got this to say!”

she cried. ”You've been missing ten years--ten years of running around loose. What've you been up to? Are you fit to be a friend of my daughter?”

Sue flung an arm about Clare. ”I am her friend!” she declared. ”I won't judge her!--Oh, mother!”

It only served to rouse Mrs. Milo further. ”Ah, she knows I'm right!--You're going to lie, are you? You're going to palm yourself off on a decent man! Ha! You won't fool anybody! You're marked!

Look in this gla.s.s!” She caught up the hand-mirror lying on the table and thrust it before Clare's face. ”Look at yourself! It's as easy to read as paper written over with nasty things! Your paint and powder won't cover it! The badness sticks out like a scab!” Then as Clare, with a sudden twist of the body, and a sob, hid her face against Sue, Mrs. Milo tossed the mirror to the table. ”There!” she cried. ”I've had my say! Now take your bleached fallen woman to the Rectory!” And with a look of defiance, she went back to the rocking-chair and sat.

No one spoke for a moment. Sue, holding the weeping girl in her arms, and soothing her with gentle pats on the heaving shoulders, looked at her mother, answering the other's defiant stare angrily. ”Ah, cruel!

Cruel!” she said, presently. ”And I know why. Oh, don't you feel that we should do everything in our power for Mr. Farvel, and not act like this? Haven't we Milos done enough to give him sorrow?” (It was characteristic that she did not say ”Wallace,” but charged his wrong-doing against the family.) ”Here's our chance to be a little bit decent. And now you attack her. But--it's not because you think she's sinned: it's because you think I'm going--to the Rectory.”

Now Clare freed herself gently from Sue's embrace, lifting her head wearily. ”Oh, I might as well tell you both”--she looked at Farvel, too--”that she's right about me. There have been--other things.”

Sue caught her hands. ”Oh, then forget them!” she cried. ”And remember only that you're going to be happy again!”

Clare hung her head. ”But the lies,” she reminded, under her breath.

”The lies. Felix, he won't forgive me. I _am_ engaged to him. And he doesn't know that I've ever been married before. That's why I was so scared when I saw--when I guessed Alan was at the Rectory. And why I wanted to--to sneak a little while ago. Oh, I can't ever face Felix!

I--I've never even told him that Barbara is mine.”

”Let _me_ tell him.--And surely marriage and a daughter aren't crimes.

And he'll respect you for clinging to the child.”

”He knows I meant to desert her,” Clare whispered back. ”Oh, Miss Milo, there's something wrong about me! I bore her. But I'm not her mother. I never can be. Some women are mothers just naturally. Look how those choir-boys love you! 'Momsey' they call you--'Momsey.' Ha!

They know a mother when they see one!”

Mrs. Milo rocked violently, darting a scornful look at the little group. ”Disgusting!” she observed.

The three gave her no notice. ”You'll grow to love your baby,”

declared Sue. ”You can't help it. Just wait till you've got a home--instead of a boarding-house. And trust us, and let us help you.”

A wan smile. ”Ah, how dear and good you are!” breathed the girl.

”Will you kiss me?”

”G.o.d love you!” Once more Sue caught the slender figure to her.

”So good! So good!”--weeping.

”Now no more tears! Let me see a smile!” Sue lifted the wet face.

Clare smiled and turned away. ”I'll finish in here,” she said, and went into the other room.

Farvel made as if to follow, but turned back. ”Ah, Sue Milo, you are dear and good!” he faltered. Then coming to take her hand, ”Your tenderness to Laura--your thought of the child! Ah, you're a woman in a million! How can I ever get on without you!” He raised her hand to his lips, held it a moment tightly between both of his, and went out.