“All?” gasped Zoie weakly, and she wondered what curious fate had been intervening to assist Alfred in such a prodigious undertaking.
“Yes, dear,” said Alfred, “every one,” and he pointed toward the three infants in the officer's arms. “See, dear, see.”
Zoie turned her eyes upon what SEEMED to her numberless red faces. “Oh!” she moaned and again she swooned.
“I told you she'd be afraid to face us,” shouted the now triumphant O'Flarety.
“You brute!” retorted the still credulous Alfred, “how dare you persecute this poor demented mother?”
Alfred's persistent solicitude for Zoie was too much for the resentful Italian woman.
“She didn't persecute me, oh no!” she exclaimed sarcastically.
“Keep still, you!” commanded the officer.
Again Zoie was reviving and again Alfred lifted her in his arms and begged her to assure the officer that the babies in question were hers.
“Let's hear her SAY it,” demanded O'Flarety.