Mrs. Milo showed her dislike of the remark, with its implied criticism
of her own judgment. And she was uneasy over the turn that the whole
matter had taken. Farvel married, no matter to whom, was one thing:
Farvel very insecurely tied, and possessed of a small daughter whose
mother repudiated her, that was quite another. She watched Sue
narrowly, for Sue was watching Farvel.
"But the little one," said the clergyman, turning to Clare; "I'd like
to see her."
"Sure!" She was all eagerness. "Why not?--Yes."
"Where is she?"
"Out of town. At Poughkeepsie. She boards with some people."
"Ah, good little mother!" said Sue, smiling. "Your baby's not in an
Institution!"
Clare blushed under the compliment. "No, I--I shouldn't like to have
her in an Orphanage."
"Can she come down right away?" asked Farvel.
"Yes! Right away! I'll go after her now."
"I'll go with you," suggested Sue. "May I?"
She tried to catch Farvel's eye, to warn him.
"But, Susan," objected Mrs. Milo; "I can't spare you."
"Oh, I can go alone," protested Clare. "I don't need anybody."
Behind her back, Balcome held up a lead-pencil at Sue.
She understood, "We'll send for the baby. Now, what's the address?"
She proffered Clare the pencil and an envelope from one of Balcome's
sagging pockets. Then to him, as Clare wrote, "Would you mind going
back to the Rectory and sending me Dora?"
"Good idea!" He pulled on the big hat.
"Dora?" cried Mrs. Milo. "That child?"
"Child!" laughed Sue. "Why, I'd send her to Japan. You don't think
she'd ever succumb to the snares and pitfalls of this wicked world!
She'll set the whole train to memorizing Lamentations!"
Mrs. Milo's eyes narrowed. Sue's sudden interest in Farvel's daughter
was irritating and disturbing. "Wait, Brother Balcome," she begged.
"Sue, _I_ don't see why the little girl's own mother shouldn't go for
her."
"Of course, I can."
Balcome waited no longer. With a meaning glance at Sue, and a scowl
for Mrs. Milo, he hurried out.
"Oh, let Dora go, Mrs. Farvel," urged Sue. "And meanwhile, you can be
getting settled somewhere."
Clare looked pleased. "Yes. All right."
"Then she will leave here?" inquired Mrs. Milo.
"Oh, she must," declared Sue, "if she's going to have her baby come to
her." She indicated the suitcase. "Is there more?"
"A trunk. And it won't take me ten minutes." As she turned to go,
Clare's look rested on the bird-cage, and she put out a hand toward it
involuntarily--then checked her evident wish to take it with her, and
disappeared into her own room.
"Where had she better go?" asked Farvel, appealing to Sue. "You'll
know best, I'm sure----"
Mrs. Milo fluttered to join them. "Of course," she began, her voice
full of sweet concern, "there are organized Homes for young women
who've made mistakes----"
"Sh!" cautioned Farvel, with a nervous look toward the double door.
"There's the little one, mother," reminded Sue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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