"Their hearts are wild
As be the hearts of birds, till childer come."
But, my dear boy, you speak as if the twinnies had exhausted the available supply!"
Archie's eyes dropped. Then he lifted them again in a frank gaze. "I almost lost her, sir. Do you think I'd put her through a thing like that again? God!—her little frantic hands clutching at us! And her voice, hoarse as a fierce animal's—!" He jumped up and crossed to a window, where he stood with his back to Nikolai, his face working.
After a moment the other followed, and this time Archie did not stiffen under his touch.
"So," said the Jew, "in your love you would deny her the woman's privilege of suffering?"
"Yes! Suffering on account of me—yes! Every time. It ain't fair, women having to stand the whole business. If I could help, if I could bear one single pain of it—But I can't."
"No," said Nikolai, his lips twitching despite the sadness about them. "No, I am afraid you can't. But—"
"And it's not," interrupted Archie, reverting doggedly to his theme, "as if I were the right man, you see!"
They were silent again.
"You are so afraid of losing her that you will not give her children," mused Nikolai presently. "And yet if I understand you you are willing to lose her—otherwise?"