"But when he grows older," she said, quickly, "could he take him then?"
"That would have to be tested in the courts, Margaret. You may feel sure of my doing all that can be done."
"Oh, I do, I do. But it is so dreadful that it needs to be done. Why should he want Philip? I—I can't understand it. It frightens me. And why does he look at me as he does? It—it makes me feel as if I have done something."
"That is doubtless all imagination, but—how long have you noticed this?" the Judge inquired, carelessly.
"Ever since the day of the funeral. And even that day when we were together at the inquest. Judge Kirtley ... would he dare to harm Philip if he could get hold of him?"
"Margaret, this is foolish, child. The only thing he could do would be to get possession of the child as testamentary guardian by due process of law, and that is always long."
"And if he got him and I could only get him back by due process of law—would that be long too?"
"Yes, that might be longer still, for being his legal guardian he would have the law presumably on his side. But, my dear, we won't cross that bridge to-day. He hasn't got him yet. I don't believe there is a court on earth—certainly not in this District—that would take your child from you. Cheer up. We'll fight it out if worst comes to worst."
She did not smile. "Do you think it is because he wants the money?"
"I have thought of that, of course. It generally is because of money that most of the deviltry is done. But I had never thought he was that kind of man."