Part 31 (1/2)
Pale and distressed, Ann got to her feet.
”Then--then, of course, she must go,” she said with decision. ”I can't have him unhappy, and--Why, such a thing could--never be!”
She could scarcely wait for Everett to depart; but suppressed her anxiety and delicately turned the subject out of deference to Horace.
She listened inattentively as Brimbecomb explained some new cases that he was soon to bring to court, and kissed him when he bade her goodnight. Then, with beating heart, she sought her brother.
Unsmilingly, Horace asked her to be seated. His face was so stern that she dared not at once speak of the fears Brimbecomb had raised in her mind; but at last she said:
”Horace, I've been thinking since our last talk about the children--”
His sharp turn in the desk-chair interrupted her words; but she paused only a moment before going on resolutely. ”Don't you think that I might put Floyd in a good private hospital where he would be taken care of, and Fledra--”
His face turned ashen. Her fears were strengthened, and, although her conscience stung her, she continued, ”Fledra's getting along so well that I would be willing to put her in a boarding school.”
”Are you tired of them, Ann?”
”Oh, no--no, far from that! I love them both; but I thought it might be pleasanter for you, if we had our home to ourselves again.”
Horace looked at his sister intently.
”Are you keeping something back from me, Ann?” he demanded.
”Scarcely keeping anything from you, Dear; but I want you to be happy and not to--” Horace rose in agitation, and quick tears blurred Ann's sight.
”Is there anything I can do for you, Dearest?” she concluded.
”No!”
Reluctantly she left him, troubled and perplexed.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lem Crabbe had cunningly planned to keep Scraggy under his eye and follow her to the hiding place of their son. He realized that the lad was a man now; but so much the better. He would obtain money from him, or he would bring him back to the scow and make him a partner in his trade. In spite of his wickedness, Lem had a strong longing for a sight of his child. Many times he had meditated upon the days Scraggy had lived in the barge, and, although he had no remorse for his cruelty to her, he had regretted the death of his boy. To be with him, he would have to tolerate the presence of Scraggy for awhile. He felt sure that Flea had gone from him forever, and the loneliness of his home made him s.h.i.+ver as he entered it a few nights after his conversation with Scraggy.
He had been in the boat but a few moments when he heard Lon's whistle and called the squatter in.
”I thought we'd make them plans for Tarrytown,” Cronk said presently.
”We might as well get to work as to be lazin' about. Don't ye think so?”
”Well, I were a thinkin' of stayin' here for awhile,” stuttered Lem.
”What for?”
”Nothin' perticular.”
”Ye know where that rich duffer's house be what ye heard Middy Burnes speak about?”
”Yep. It ain't far from the graveyard. I thought as how we could crawl in there while we was waitin' for night.”