Mrs. Belmont was silent. Her wild gaze turned once more out of the window, and the daughter mused on.
At last. "If Pearl only knew, I could lie down under a friendly billow peacefully—yes, gladly."
"Will you persist, Lillian?"
"He is my husband and the father of my child."
A moment's silence.
"How terrible! That peal was directly over us!"
The stately head dropped upon the white arm extended across the heavy bar of iron to which she was clinging, while the shouts and heavy hurried feet made a dismal accompaniment to the confusion all about her.
Lillian spoke.
"Mother, with death in the air and on the sea, tell me, where is my child?"
"In heaven, I hope," and for once she spoke truly.