"My baby," she said. Sam had the boy. He gave it her. She murmured something to the fatherless, and lay back with him in her arms, She motioned to Mac and he came nearer.
"Is Tchorch dead, Mister Maclan?"
She could not speak his name.
"I'm afraid so, ma'am," he answered.
"Have they found him?"
"Only the empty boat."
Then no one spoke. She turned her head away, Outside the dawn came up and looked down on ashes. In the distance they heard Annawillee mourning. She sat in the road with dust upon her head, like an Indian widow.
"I loved Tchorch," said Jenny. Then she rose in the bed and shrieked awfully.
"I want Tchorch, I want Tchorch!"
She was like steel under the powerful hands of the man who sat by her.