"Then _why_ does it remain upon your statute books?" she cried, furiously. "Is law only for the strong? Do we--the weak--the ones who need it most--do we find in it only something to mock us when we cry to it?" Her timidity was all gone. She flung her questions at them tumultuously, as children stand and beat impotently upon a door that will not open to them. "I tell you it is a wicked law! a wicked, wicked law! and they do wickedly who let it stand!... _A mother have no right to her unborn child?_ Shame! shame! upon the men who frame such laws! They are not born of women but of beasts!" "Margaret," Judge Kirtley said, sternly, "you must control yourself. This is no place for a discussion of our laws, however imperfect they are." "I beg your pardon," she answered with a flush and a return to her usual manner. "In this insult to womanhood and motherhood I forgot myself. I shall not do so again. Only tell me that I need not fear--that my baby is safe with me!" As she spoke she turned full upon Richard De Jarnette though she did not call his name. He looked at her impassively. "Mr. De Jarnette," said Mr. Jarvis, nervously, folding up his papers and placing them in his satchel, "I think you can do more to add to your sister-in-law's peace of mind than anybody else can. Will you not tell her plainly your intentions in the matter?" "I will," said Richard De Jarnette, a sudden fire leaping to his eyes, which were upon Margaret. Then he turned to the attorney. "I accept the trust my brother has bequeathed to me, and shall claim the child." Saying which he rose, bowed slightly, and left the room. CHAPTER XII A LOSING FIGHT It was as if a thunderbolt had fallen from a clear sky. Margaret dropped back like one shot. Judge Kirtley and the attorney looked after the disappearing figure and then at each other. Before they had time to recover from their astonishment Margaret started up in a quiver of excitement. "Where has he gone? Is he after Philip?" Before they could remonstrate she was out of the room and hurrying up the stairs. "Had you any knowledge, sir, of the stand Mr. De Jarnette was going to take?" demanded Judge Kirtley, sternly. "Not the slightest. It is as much of a surprise to me as to you." "Did he know the nature of this will before coming here?" "I think not. He certainly did not know it from me, and I have reason to think that he did not see his brother after it was made until the day he returned, which was the day of his death, I believe." "It was." "I was out of the city at the time and did not see Victor De Jarnette after this codicil was added, April thirtieth. I wish to God I had! I think perhaps I could have persuaded him then to alter it. He had had a good many months in which to cool down. He was a hot-headed fellow, you know." "You say you tried to argue him out of doing it in the first place?"