She was sobbing into her hands, and he was breathing fast and loud.
“One word more—only one—about the child.”
“Little Katherine!”
“Have I a right to her?”
She gasped audibly, but did not answer, and he tried a second time.
“Does she belong to me, Kate?”
Her confusion increased. He tried a third time, speaking more gently than before.
“If I should lave the island, Kate, could I—must I—may I take the child along with me?”
At that her fear got the better of her shame, and she cried, “Don't take her away. Oh, don't, don't!”
“Ah!”