"Nita—my mother's name." Keeko's voice was choked. A world of emotion seemed to be striving to overwhelm her. Marcel in bewilderment was regarding only the strong face of the man seated in the sunlight.
Steve inclined his head.
"Yes. Nita was your mother."
An uncontrollable impulse urged the girl. She had no power to resist it. Why should she? This man—this man to whom Marcel had brought her, with his steady eyes and strong face. He—he——
She sprang from her seat beside her lover, the great creature staring so amazedly at the man, who, for a moment, had permitted a glance into those close-hidden secrets of his heart. In a moment she was on her knees at Steve's side, and the man's hands were grasping hers in their strong embrace.
"And you—you are my—father!" she cried.
Steve crushed the hands in his with a power that told of the feeling stirring.
"Yes," he said simply. Then he added very gently, very tenderly. "And you—you are my little baby girl Coqueline."
And in the silence that followed there reached them from close behind the sound of the low, soft voice of the mother woman.
"So. An-ina glad. Oh, yes."