Part 19 (2/2)

”I shall never go,” said Faith.

It was curious how determinedly she stuck to that. Even Peg marvelled at her unexpected display of will-power. She did not understand how deeply ingrained in the girl's soul the failure and death of her father had been, or how the loss of her mother had reawakened and added to its power.

”You'll have to let the twins go, anyway,” Peg said bluntly. ”Why, it would be a crime to try and keep them, bless their hearts! After all the new frocks he's bought them, you ought to see!”

”I don't want to see them,” said Faith pa.s.sionately, the tears rus.h.i.+ng to her eyes. ”n.o.body will ever love them as I do.”

But she knew she was powerless to keep the twins with her. Mr. Shawyer came and talked to her about it. He pointed out kindly but firmly that her husband was their natural guardian now, as she herself was under age.

”He is doing and will do everything in his power for their happiness,”

he said. ”He has been most kind and generous. It's all for the good of the little girls, too, and they are quite happy to go. Don't you think it's rather selfish of you to try and stand in their way?”

She gave in at last, but it almost broke her heart. She had got it into her head that if her mother could know, she would be angry with her for parting with them; all the more angry because it was Forrester who was paying for it all. Her mother had hated him, and Faith believed that therefore it was her duty to hate him also.

She broke down when it came to saying good-bye. There was a cab at the door, piled with the twins' new luggage, and Mrs. Shawyer was waiting to take them to school.

Up to the last moment they had been wildly excited and full of delight, but the sight of Faith's pale face and tears was a signal for them to give way also.

They clung to her sobbing and crying. They did not want to go, they yelled; they even kicked at Forrester when he picked them up one under each arm and carried them down to the waiting taxi.

He was annoyed with Faith for being the cause of such a scene. He went back to her when they had driven off, frowning heavily.

Faith was sobbing and looking out of the window in the direction in which the twins had disappeared--carried off by main force, so it seemed to her. She turned round and looked at her husband with flaming eyes.

”I'll never forgive you for this,” she said. ”It will break their hearts, poor darlings!”

”Nonsense!” he answered calmly. ”Before they get into the next street they'll be perfectly happy. Mrs. Shawyer has a box of chocolates for them, and I never knew chocolates fail to dry their tears yet.”

He smoothed his hair, which had got rather ruffled by the twins'

struggles to escape him.

”Thank goodness that's over,” he said with a short laugh. ”Now I can look after you; I've arranged that we shall go to the flat this evening and dine there. There will be no need to come back to this house again.”

The tone of his voice added, ”Thank G.o.d,” and Faith flushed sensitively.

”This house is good enough for me,” she said quickly. ”And I am not going to your flat.”

He laughed.

”Silly child. I thought you liked it so much.”

”I thought I did--then. I've changed my mind.” She tried to pa.s.s him.

”Please let me go; I want to speak to Peg.”

The Beggar Man stood immovable.

”Peg is not in the house,” he said quietly. ”She is not coming back any more.”

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