“Shall we board it out?” asked the father.
“Had he no heart?”
“Oh! yes, of course he had!”
And the baby remained at home.
Then a very polite letter arrived from the head office, enquiring after the young mother’s health.
“She was very well and would be back at the office on the day after to-morrow.”
She was still a little weak and had to take a cab; but she soon picked up her strength. However, a new difficulty now presented itself. She must be kept informed of the baby’s condition; a messenger boy was despatched to her home, at first twice a day, then every two hours.
And when she was told that the baby had been crying, she put on her hat and rushed home at once. But the assistant was there, ready to take her place. The head clerk was very civil and made no comment.
One day the young mother discovered accidentally that the nurse was unable to feed the baby, but had concealed the fact for fear of losing her place. She had to take a day off in order to find a new foster mother. But they were all alike; brutal egoists every one of them, who took no interest in the children of strangers. No one could ever depend on them.
“No,” agreed the husband, “in a case of this sort one can only depend on oneself.”