Chapter1

thedaybrokegrayanddull.thecloudshungheavily,andtherewasarawnessintheairthatestedsnow.awomanservantcameintoaroominwhichachildwassleepinganddrewthecurtains.sheglancedmechanicallyatthehouseopposite,aohousewithaportico,andwenttothechild’sbed.

“wakeup,philip,”shesaid.

shepulleddownthebed-clothes,tookhiminherarms,andcarriedhimdownstairs.hewasonlyhalfawake.

“yourmotherwantsyou,”shesaid.

sheopenedthedoorofaroomonthefloorbelowandtookthechildovertoabedinwhichawomanwaslying.itwashismother.shestretchedoutherarms,andthechildnestledbyherside.hedidnotaskwhyhehadbeenawakened.thewomankissedhiseyes,andwiththin,smallhandsfeltthewarmbodythroughhiswhiteflannelnightgown.shepressedhimclosertoherself.

“areyousleepy,darling?”shesaid.

hervoicewassoweakthatitseemedtocomealreadyfromagreatdistance.thechilddidnotanswer,butsmiledcomfortably.hewasveryhappyinthelarge,warmbed,withthosesoftarmsabouthim.hetriedtomakehimselfsmallerstillashecuddledupagainsthismother,andhekissedhersleepily.inamomentheclosedhiseyesandwasfastasleep.thedoctorcameforwardsandstoodbythebed-side.

“oh,don’ttakehimawayyet,”shemoaned.

thedoctor,withoutanswering,lookedathergravely.knowingshewouldnotbeallowedtokeepthechildmuchlonger,thewomankissedhimagain;

andshepassedherhanddownhisbodytillshecametohisfeet;sheheldtherightfootinherhandandfeltthefivesmalltoes;andthenslowlypassedherhandovertheleftone.shegaveasob.

“what’sthematter?”saidthedoctor.“you’retired.”  sheshookherhead,unabletospeak,andthetearsrolleddownhercheeks.thedoctorbentdown.

“letmetakehim.”

shewastooweaktoresisthiswish,andshegavethechildup.thedoctorhandedhimbacktohisnurse.

“you’dbetterputhimbackinhisownbed.”

“verywell,sir.”thelittleboy,stillsleeping,wastakenaway.hismothersobbednowbroken-heartedly.

“whatwillhappentohim,poorchild?”

themonthlynursetriedtoquiether,andpresently,fromexhaustion,thecryingceased.thedoctorwalkedtoatableontheothersideoftheroom,uponwhich,underatowel,laythebodyofastill-bornchild.heliftedthetowelandlooked.hewashiddenfromthebedbyascreen,butthewomanguessedwhathewasdoing.

“wasitagirloraboy?”shewhisperedtothenurse.

“anotherboy.”

thewomandidnotanswer.inamomentthechild’snursecameback.sheapproachedthebed.

“masterphilipneverwokeup,”shesaid.therewasapause.thenthedoctorfelthispatient’spulseoncemore.

“idon’tthinkthere’sanythingicandojustnow,”hesaid.“i’llcallagainafterbreakfast.”

“i’llshowyouout,sir,”saidthechild’snurse.

theywalkeddownstairsinsilence.inthehallthedoctorstopped.

“you’vesentformrs.carey’sbrother-in-law,haven’tyou?”

“yes,sir.”

“d’youknowatwhattimehe’llbehere?”

“no,sir,i’mexpectingatelegram.”

“whataboutthelittleboy?ishouldthinkhe’dbebetteroutoftheway.”

“misswatkinsaidshe’dtakehim,sir.”

“who’sshe?”

“she’shisgodmother,sir.d’youthinkmrs.careywillgetoverit,sir?”

thedoctorshookhishead.