"And that is not all," she went on. "Oh, no! _no!_ that is not all. Through all those weary months--days of pain and sleepless nights--he lay, part of my body, his very life entwined with mine, his very soul fashioned by mine, his being absolutely dependent upon mine--he lay there, I say, close to my heart--_and every throb was for him_! You tell me that the man who gave him only life and a name and then deserted him--" the words were pouring out tumultuously now--"that this man has the right to will that child away from me, his mother, as he would his horse or his dog? I tell you it is a lie! _a lie!_ He has no such right! The child is mine! There is no power in earth or heaven or hell that can take him from me! _I'll have him!_" She stopped. The world grew black before her. She swayed backward; there was a sudden stir; and it was Richard De Jarnette springing forward that caught her as she fell. CHAPTER XXIII MOTHERS AND FOSTER MOTHERS From the court-room she was carried straight to the hospital. The doctor, summoned hastily to attend her, told them gravely that it was probably the beginning of an attack of brain fever. There was never any telling where that would end. The strain of the last week had been very severe. She should have the most skilful and experienced nursing that could be secured, and constant medical attention. Then, too, as Judge Kirtley hurriedly explained to Mrs. Pennybacker, who, having some confidence in her own ability as a nurse and a country woman's distrust of hospitals, had urged Margaret's removal to her own home, at the hospital she would be spared the further strain of seeing the child taken away. It would be hard for her to come back to a house without him, but not such an ordeal as his forcible removal would be. After this Mrs. Pennybacker said no more. With Judge Kirtley she herself had taken Margaret to the hospital, the girl still mercifully oblivious to all around her. Then she had returned to Massachusetts Avenue to get Philip ready for his removal to Elmhurst. Life seemed to be moving on pretty rapidly just now. When she reached the house the child was gone. Mr. De Jarnette had come for him almost immediately, Bess reported. "Did he object to going?" "No. I told him in Mr. De Jarnette's presence that his mama was sick and he was going to his Uncle Richard's for a little visit. I guess I emphasized visit, maybe. I think Margaret had prepared Philip for it. I heard her tell him last night that perhaps he would go to his Uncle Richard's for a while, and that he must be a brave little boy and not cry." "I know. I think she lost courage last night. Perhaps she had a presentiment of how it was to be. I am glad she took that way of preparing the child. Did he cry?" "No. But his chin quivered, the way it does, you know, when he tries to keep from crying." "Poor little thing!"