know Mrs. Perry, too; and if ever a woman needed
her husband she does _now_, even if her husband _is_ a rascal."

He tried to be angry, but he couldn't. He walked up and down the room
once or twice, his face twitching all the time, and then he said, a word
or two at a time:

"I wish I could--poor girl!--God forgive me!--what _can_ I do?--I wish I
was dead!"

"You wouldn't be any use to _any_body then but the Evil One, George
Perry, and you're not ready to see _him_ just yet," said I.

Just then there came a low, long groan from the backroom, and at the
same time some one came into the parlor. I was too excited to notice who
it was; and George Perry, when he heard the groan, stopped short and
exclaimed:

"Good God! who's that?"

"Your wife," said I, almost ready to scream, I was so wrought up.

He hid his face in his hands, and trembled all over.

There was half a minute's silence--it seemed half an hour--and then we
heard a long, thin wail from a voice that hadn't ever been heard on
earth before.

"What's that?" said Perry, in a hoarse whisper, his eyes starting out of
his head, and hands thrown up.

"Your baby--just born," said I. "Will you take rooms for your family
_now_, George Perry?" I asked.

"_I_ sha'n't stand in the way," said a voice behind me.

I turned around quickly, just in time to see, with her eyes full of
tears, the woman who had come with George go out the door and shut the
hall-door behind her.

"Thank God!" said George, dropping on his knees.

"Amen!" said I, hurrying out of the parlor and locking the door behind
me.

I thought if he wanted to pray while on his knees he shouldn't be
disturbed, while if he should suddenly be tempted to follow his late
companion, _I_ shouldn't be held at the Judgment day for any share of
the guilt.

I found the doctor bustling about, getting ready to go, and Mrs. Perry
looking very peaceful and happy, with a little bundle hugged up close to
her.

"I guess the Lord will bring him _now_," said Mrs. Perry, "if it's only
to see his little boy."

"Like enough, my dear," said I, thanking the Lord for opening the
question, for my wits were all gone by this time, and I hadn't any more
idea of what to do than the man in the moon; "but," said I, "He won't
bring him till you're well, and able to bear the excitement."

"Oh, I could bear it any time now," said she, very calmly, "It would
seem just as natural as could be to have him come in and kiss me, an