“And they wanted to give me money, but I would not take it, and they had been trying to find a laundress for their finer linen—their old serving-woman was ill. They could find one for the heavier things, but they are very particular, and I was sure I could manage, and so I begged them to let me have the work, and they did, and overpaid me, I fear. And I—I knew very well how many spying eyes were about, and I thought of my proud father and my proud mother and grandmother, and perhaps I was proud, too. You know they talk about the Yates pride. It was not so much because I was ashamed of doing honest work as because I did resent those prying eyes and tattling tongues, and so I said nothing, but I did go back and forth in broad daylight with the linen wrapped up in the old blue and white blanket, in my old carriage, and they thought what they thought.”
Eudora laughed faintly. She had a gentle humor. “It was somewhat laughable, too,” she observed. “The Lancaster girls and I have had our little jests over it, but I felt that I could not deceive you.”
Lawton looked bewildered. “But that is a real baby in there,” he said, jerking an elbow toward the other room.
“Oh yes,” replied Eudora. “I adopted him yesterday. I went to the Children’s Home in Elmfield. Amelia Lancaster went with me. Wilson drove us over. I know a nurse there. She took care of mother in her last illness. And I adopted this baby; at least, I am going to. He comes of respectable people, and his parents are dead. His mother died when he was born. He is healthy, and I thought him a beautiful baby.”
“Yes, he is,” assented Lawton, but he still looked somewhat perplexed. “But why did you hurry off so and get him, Eudora?” said he.
“I thought from what you said that day that you would be disappointed when you found out I had only the Lancaster linen and not a real baby,” said Eudora with her calm, grand air and with no trace of a smile.
“Then that means that you say yes, Eudora?”
For the first time Eudora gave a startled glance at him. “Didn’t you know?” she gasped.
“How should I? You had not said yes really, dear.”
“Do you think,” said Eudora Yates, “that I am not too proud to allow you to ask me if my answer were not yes?”