r bed on her tiptoes, she took a chair, straddled it, leaned her
chin on the back, and stared fixedly at the face of the young woman, now
just barely visible in the darkness of the room.

Gertrude dreamed that a black bird was hovering over her and picking at
her breast with its pointed beak. She screamed and woke up.

Shortly after this Gertrude had to send for the midwife.

During the night, Gertrude gave birth to a girl; she had suffered
terrible pains. Philippina had seen and heard it all. She had run back
and forth, from the kitchen to the bedroom and from the bedroom to the
kitchen, for hours; she was like an insane person; she kept mumbling
something to herself. What she mumbled no one knew.

Gertrude had called in vain for Daniel; in vain had she waited for him
the whole day.

"Where in the world can Daniel be?" cried Philippina, "where can Daniel
be with his damned Eleanore?" She sat in the corner with her hands
folded, her hair tangled and knotted, her face distorted with the
grimaces of madness. The midwife was still busy with Gertrude; the
new-born child was crying pitifully.

VI

Daniel held the child in his arms, and looked at it carefully but
without love. "You little worm, what do you want in this world?" he said
to his daughter. He still had his hat on; so had Eleanore. Both of them
were dressed just as they came from the station; they were embarrassed
and excited at what had happened. Eleanore was exceedingly pale; her
great eyes looked dreamy; her body seemed of almost boyish slenderness.
At times she smiled; then the smile died away, as if she did not have
the courage to appear so cheerful.

Inspector Jordan was also in the room, acting as he had always acted
since his bankruptcy--like a guest who feels that he is a burden to the
family. He said very humbly: "I have suggested to Gertrude that she call
the child Agnes after my deceased wife."

"Very well, let's call her Agnes," said Daniel.

Gertrude asked that the child be brought to her so that she could nurse
it. Eleanore carried it over and laid it at her breast. As the hands of
the sisters touched, Gertrude looked up quickly: there was an
indescribable expression of thoughtfulness, knowingness, and kindliness
on her face. Eleanore fell on her knees, threw her arms around
Gertrude's neck, and kissed her passionately. Gertrude reached out her
left hand to Daniel; he gave her his right hand with some he