"Then—you cannot—do it."
She spoke helplessly, wildly.
"There is nothing to be done. There is no one else. She will be all alone."
Then he comprehended her meaning fully.
"No," he said, "I am not so poor as that. I am not a poorer man than my father was, and I can do what he would have done had he lived. My mother will care for the girl, if that is what you wish."
"What I wish!" she echoed. "I wish for nothing—but I must do something for her—before—before—before——"
She broke off, but began again.
"You are like your father. You make things seem simple. You speak as if you were undertaking nothing."
"It is not much to do," he answered, "and we could not do less. I will go to my mother and tell her that she is needed here. She will come to you."