"Just as you wish," she answered quietly. "Only let me get you a hat."
"I always come—like this," the other said. "I will wait till you go back."
She stood still with her face towards the house as Ailleen returned, and then, as she heard the girl's footsteps on the verandah, she turned and walked to the clump of trees, disappearing under their shade through the little gate in the fence. Closing the gate after her, she stepped forward, holding out a hand slightly in front of her.
"Well?"
At the sound of the word she stood rigid, the pallor deepening on her face. She knew where he was standing though she could not see; she knew that barely a yard away the man who spoke was standing, his heavy black brows forming a band across his forehead, drawn down in a scowl over eyes that glared at her in all the cruelty of unredeemed hate.
"How's the boy?"
"He is well," she answered, "very well. He is——"
"I've come for him."
The woman gasped and caught her breath.
"No, no," she said in a strained tone. "I cannot part with him. It would kill me."