Captain Mainwaring had scarcely noticed little Jack before, but Xenie's peculiar action attracted his attention. He rose and took a step toward her.
"You do not answer me," he said. "Can it be, then, that this is Lora's child and mine?"
Xenie caught the child up and held him tightly to her breast, while she faced the speaker with wild, angry eyes, like a lioness at bay.
"Back, back!" she cried, "do not touch him! This is my child—mine, do you hear? How dare you claim him?"
"Yours, yours," cried the sailor, retreating before the passionate vehemence of her voice and gestures; "I—I did not know you had a child, madam."
"You did not," cried Xenie with breathless defiance. "No matter. Ask mamma, there. Ask Doctor Shirley! Ask anyone you choose. They will all tell you that this is my child—my child, do you understand?"
"Madam, I am not disputing your word," cried poor Jack, in amaze at her angry vehemence. "Of course you know best whose child it is. But will you tell me what became of Lora's baby?"
Mrs. St. John stared at him silently a moment, then she answered, coldly:
"Lora's baby? Are you mad, Jack Mainwaring? Who told you that she had a baby?"