Part 32 (2/2)

And--slowly. With patience. It is better now. So that is it? More slowly,--if you can. Of course. Is it that you wish to know?

Of--course--I--shall--give--you--what--you--want. I always give you what--you want. I do my best for that. You--want--”

The woman's eyes were closed. She was breathing deeply. Her whole figure was tense. The girl stood beside her, a puzzled, half incredulous look coming into her face.

”I--should--look. It does no--good--to--look. I can never see--Beyond the wood--I should look beyond.--What wood? Now? Is it perhaps that--you--mean--gate? Swings to and fro? Now--you--want--; this--moment--”

The door was flung wide open.

At the noise the woman slowly opened her eyes, staring blindly before her.

”You--want--” She murmured.

A boy stood in the doorway. He was slight and young. His face was small and rather like the girl's face, and his dark eyes were set far apart like her eyes. Through the gray of the ma.s.sing shadows gleamed the bra.s.s b.u.t.tons of his uniform.

The girl sprang forward.

”Jean--!”

”Maman.” The boy came a step into the room. ”See, Maman!”

”Hush, Jean.” The girl turned to gaze at the woman sitting there with that stony, frozen stare, staying in her eyes.

”Maman, they have taken me at last!”

”Oh,” for a second the girl forgot the woman. ”But I am proud of you!”

”Maman, I wear the uniform. They will let me go now. I knew they would take me. Sooner or later; I knew they would have to! Aren't you glad?”

The girl remembered and interrupted him.

”Be still, Jean!”

The boy stood looking from one to the other, his eyes straining through the gloom.

”Maman,” he whispered.

The woman's voice came trailing softly to them.

”They--want--”

”Maman;” the girl threw her arm protectingly over the woman's shoulders.

”Jean is here. See, pet.i.te Maman; it is Jean. Your Jean.”

The woman repeated the words in that gentle, plaintive singsong.

”They want--” and then she got to her feet. ”Jean!--” Her voice rose shrilly crescendo. ”It was that! My--Jean--”

”Maman;” the boy came and stood beside her. ”You would not have me stay behind when they need me? You will be glad to have me go. Come, Maman, you must say that you are glad!”

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