"But what has happened?" he asked. He suddenly sat up. "Why are you here, Rumsey? Margaret, why are your eyes so red?"
Margaret Awdrey tried to speak, but the words would not come to her lips.
Rumsey bent forward and took Awdrey's hand.
"It has pleased Providence to afflict you very sorely, my poor fellow," he said, "but I know for your wife's sake you will be man enough to endure this fearful blow with fortitude."
"What blow, doctor?"
"Your child," began the doctor.
"My child?" said Awdrey. He put his feet on the floor, and stood up. There was a strange note of query in his tone.
"My child?" he repeated. "What child?"
"Your child is dead, Awdrey. We did what we could to save him."
Awdrey uttered a wild laugh.