"Yes, I know," she replied.
Caprice arose and advanced towards her.
"You know," she exclaimed vehemently, "and yet can sit down in the same room with a woman of my character. Are you not afraid I'll contaminate you--do you not shrink from a pariah like me--no--you do not--great heavens!" with a bitter laugh, sitting down again; "and I thought the age of miracles was past--ah, bah! But you are only a girl, my dear, and don't understand."
Eugénie arose and crossed over to her.
"I do understand; I am a woman, and feel for a woman."
Kitty caught her hand and gave a gasping cry. "God bless you!" she whispered, in a husky voice.
Then in a moment she had dashed the tears away from her eyes, and sat up again in her bright, resolute manner.
"No woman has spoken so kindly as you have for many years," she said quickly; "and I thank you. I can give you my child, and you will take care of her for me when I am far away."
"What do you mean?" asked Eugénie, puzzled.
"Mean--that I am not fit to live with my child, that I am going to send her to England with you, that she may forget she ever had a mother."