Olive and Jean waited in the Lodge living room, Jim had disappeared somewhere an hour before. Ruth Colter came into the nursery and stayed by Jack.
Half an hour passed. Then suddenly there was a strange, almost an unearthly silence in the room, and it was as if one could see the little white soul rise and float softly away like a bird.
The little figure in the cradle was still.
The doctor rose up.
"It is over," he said pitifully.
Frieda covered up her face, but Jack went over and looked down at Vive for a moment and then turned to the others.
"Please do not let anyone come with me," she asked. "I must go outdoors alone."
Then Jack went out past the living room, through the long avenue of tall trees, on farther and farther, not knowing where she was going.
The Rainbow Ranch, which she had loved better than any place in the world, had taken from her the human being, whom at this moment she believed she loved most.
Over Rainbow creek there hung a tiny yellow, crescent moon. It seemed to Jack that this, too, made her think of her baby, it was just as cold, just as perfect and as far away.