Chapter 1

Thedaybrokegrayanddull.Thecloudshungheavily,andtherewasarawnessintheairthatsuggestedsnow.Awomanservantcameintoaroominwhichachildwassleepinganddrewthecurtains.Sheglancedmechanicallyatthehouseopposite,astuccohousewithaportico,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.