! Out of
your own mouth you condemn yourself, for it's your inconvenience and
discomfort that's troubling you--not his fate. He's a living witness
against you--a running sore in your side--and that's why you want his
friendship, to ease yourself and heal your conscience. Anybody could see
that."

He did not answer; but this indictment astonished him. Could she still
be so stern after the years that had swept over their quarrel?

"You wrong me there, Sabina. Indeed, it's not for my own comfort only,
but much more largely for his that I am so much concerned. Surely we can
meet on the common ground of his welfare and leave the rest?"

"What common ground is there? Why must I think your friendship and your
money are the best possible things for him? Why should I advise him to
take what I refused for myself twelve years and more ago? You offered me
your friendship and your money--as a substitute for being your wife. You
were so stark ignorant of the girl you'd promised to marry, that you
offered her cash and the privilege of your company after your child was
born. And now you offer your child cash and the privilege of your
company--that's all. You deny him your name, as you denied his mother
your name; and why should he pick up the crumbs from your table that his
mother would have starved rather than eaten? I've never spoken against
you to him and never shall, but I'm not a fool now--whatever I was--and
I'm not going to urge my son to seek you and put his little heart into
your keeping; because well I know what you do with hearts. I'm outside
your life and so is he; and if he likes to come into your life, I shan't
prevent it. I couldn't prevent it. He'll do about it as he chooses, when
he's old enough to measure it up. But I'm not for you, or against you.
I'm only the suffering sort, not the fighting sort. You know whether you
deserve the love and worship of that little, nameless boy."

He was struck into silence, not at her bitter words, but at his own
thoughts. For he had often speculated on future speech with her and
wondered when it would happen and what it would concern. He had hoped
that she would let the past go and be his friend again on another plane.
He had pictured some sort of amity based on the old romance. He had
desired nothing so much in life as a friendly understanding and the
permission to contribute to the ease and comfort of Sabina and the
prosperity of his son. He hoped that in course of time and face