Part 34 (2/2)
With a sigh of relief, Mrs. Milo rose, adjusted her bonnet, and, to make sure that her appearance justified her going out upon the street, took up from the table that same hand-mirror which she had thrust before Clare's face. ”So she's gone,” she observed. She turned her head from side to side, delicately touching hair and bonnet, and the lace at her throat. ”Well, it's for the best, I've no doubt.--And now we can go home.”
Sue did not move. She had come back from her quick survey of the rear yard to stand at the center of the front room--to stand very straight, her head up, her eyes wide and fixed on s.p.a.ce, her face strangely white and stern.
”Susan?” Mrs. Milo took out and replaced a hairpin.
Sue Stirred. ”Do you mean to _his_ home?” she asked slowly.
”I mean to the Rectory.” The gla.s.s was laid back upon the table.
”After what you've said?”
”What I said was true.”
”Ah!--You believe in speaking--the truth?”
”What a question, my daughter!”--fondly.
”Even when the truth is bitter--and _hard_!” She trembled, and drew in her breath at the remembrance of that scathing arraignment.
”Shall we start?”
”But he has asked you not to return. And it's you who have sent her away. And the little one is coming. You can't go to the Rectory.”
”Oh, indeed?” queried Mrs. Milo, sarcastically. ”And are you going?”
Sue waited a moment. Then, ”My work is there.”
Mrs. Milo started. ”Now let me tell you something!” she cried, throwing up her head. ”You've disobeyed me once today----”
Sue smiled. ”Disobeyed!” she repeated.
”--If you disobey me again--if you go back to the Rectory without me----”
”I shall certainly go back.”
”--You shan't have one penny of your father's life insurance! Not one!
I'll leave every cent of it to Wallace!”
Again Sue smiled. ”Ah, you're independent of me, aren't you?”
”Quite--thank Providence!”
”No. Thank me. All these years you've had that insurance money out earning interest. You haven't had to use any of it, or even any of its earnings----”
”It has grown, I'm happy to say.”
<script>