"I thought so," she said eagerly. "Well, don't you see how that date changes everything? Even if my—if Mr. De Jarnette had had the right by law to will away my child he could not have done it on April 30th, for Philip was not born till two days afterward! His birthday is May second!" She said it exultantly.
As by one impulse the two lawyers looked each into the face of the other and then away.
"Don't you see?" she cried desperately, not comprehending the look but knowing instinctively that something was wrong. "Don't you see the difference that makes? When that will was made this child was mine!—a part of my body!—my very breath giving him life!... Don't you see?—Oh, can't you see?... He wouldn't have the right to make this will then—not then!"
Her voice was becoming strained and high-pitched in her excitement.
"Mrs. De Jarnette," began Mr. Jarvis, "the law—I should say—yes, the law—Judge, you can explain this to her better than I can."
She turned to Judge Kirtley. She was in extremity now.
"My child," he said, "the law, as it distinctly states, recognizes in this thing no difference between the living child and the infant en ventre sa mere. Your husband, according to the laws of the District of Columbia, had a right to will away your unborn child."
She stared at him incredulously. Then, as the meaning of his words sank into her quivering soul, she bent toward him with a look that had a challenge in it.
"And have you known this before?"
"Always."