She took off the fur cap, and for a few minutes silently stroked Bethany’s pale, unhappy cheeks. Then she whispered, “What is the matter, darling?”
Not since her mother’s death had a lady, a genuine lady, put her arm round the shrinking, sensitive child and whispered to her in tones sweet and clear. Something in Bethany’s heart responded. She could not speak, but she silently returned the pressure of Mrs. Everest’s hands and gazed into her eyes in dumb misery.
The Judge, in the meantime, got up, walked about the room in some embarrassment, and tried to avoid the overtures of the too-friendly baby, who was creeping briskly after him, gurgling in his throat, and begging for permission to play with his feet.
“What is the matter?” whispered Mrs. Everest, “is it that you don’t want to leave the Judge and Titus?”
Bethany silently nodded her head.
“Would you like to come and live with me and be my little girl?” pursued Mrs. Everest.
She felt the little form shrink within her arms.
“You would rather stay with the Judge?”
Bethany nodded again.
Mrs. Everest looked over her shoulder. “What do you call him?”