Big Liza took it upon herself to administer consolation. "No you ain't, honey, no, you ain't! She was jes' nachelly bo'n dat-a-way. In co'se it's natchel enough fo' a body to take up with a gemman friend, but to leave her own baby-chile behine her—why, dat gal's aimin' fer hell-fire jus' as fas' as she kin trabbel!"
Kate was reminded of poor Mag's parting gift, her "little hands and feet." She asked, sighing:
"Where is the baby?"
"Miss Jack's got her in her room."
She entered unheard, and found Jacqueline holding the little whimpering creature tight against her breast, rocking and crooning to it.
"There, there, precious! Did it miss its mama? Never mind, I know. They're tired of us, they've left us—I know. They just didn't want us any more. Never mind, pet! You've got me."
Kate slipped away again with dim eyes, leaving Jacqueline and the deserted baby to comfort each other.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Jacqueline had waited all that day for news from Channing, disappointed, more than a little humiliated, to think that he had failed where she had not, but making every allowance for him as a city-bred man not accustomed to storms such as that of the night before. Perhaps he had taken for granted that she would not venture out in it herself.