i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (100 books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📗

What a pity? Oh, why | couldn't some man take her and marry her? Instead of that! She was so fresh, so unusually beautiful, and she ;

looked . yes, unspoiled, in spite of the fact. < "Good day, doctor."

a "Good day, Kate!" He finished drawing on his gloves.

"You're looking well, Kate." To himself he sounded porn; pous. | Sarah came forward; she hadn't missed the doctor's scrutiny any more than the priest's.

"She does look grand, doesn't she, doctor? And it's all thanks to Doctor Davidson for getting her that place; her mistress bought her that whole rig-out for a Christmas box." i Rodney suddenly smiled. He had heard of the Tol- ;

maches and their kind eccentricities from Davidson.

"You look very smart, Kate."

"Thank you, doctor," said Kate, walking to her mother and taking Annie into her arms; the child bounced and :i gurgled with glee. Kate knew why her mother had in- j formed both the priest and the doctor so quickly of the | source of her new clothes, and felt both hurt and annoyed. I'm not bad . I'm not, she thought. I could never do a thing like that for money . or anything, but ; she couldn't even say to herself the word 'love'.

She's a lovely child, Kate. "

"Yes, she's growing, isn't she?"

"Your mother has her hands full with her, haven't you, Mrs.

Hannigan?"

Sarah smiled. What a grand man he was! She had been a little afraid of him at first, but not now. And he loved children; he had even nursed Annie, here in the kitchen.

"She gave me some trouble a year tonight, did this little madam," he said, bending towards the child and poking her playfully with his finger. Annie opened her mouth wide, showing six white stumps, and beat her fists delightedly on Kate's face. Then, with a swift movement, she bent towards the black head, so temptingly near, and burrowed her two hands in its depth.

"Oh, good lord, you little imp!"

Rodney eased his head towards her and put up his hands, trying to unclasp the tiny fingers.

"Annie, let go this minute, you naughty girl 1' said Kate.

"Oh, my goodness 1' cried Sarah.

"Who'd have believed shed be so sharp. Oh, dear me! Pull her off, Kate!"

"No, don't pull her off," pleaded Rodney; 'you'll hurt her hands. " He went nearer: " Unclasp one hand at a time, Kate, and I'll hold it. "

As Kate's fingers moved in his hair they touched his, and he felt their cool firmness.

Sarah stood irresolute, her hands wavering. Not to save her life could she have touched the doctor's hair.

The three of them were so engrossed that they did not hear the knock if there had been one . nor the kitchen door opening.

But when they heard a familiar voice say, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Hannigan, I'm sure; I didn't know you had company. I'll give you a look in later," they turned as one.

Rodney screwed round his head to look at the figure in the doorway; his hands were covering one of Kate's. As she turned, their faces were within an inch of each 'other, with the laughing face of the child behind.

They stared at Dorrie Clarke; and she stared back, genuinely surprised at the domesticity of the scene before

her. By God, she had stumbled on something now I Would you believe it? Carrying on openly like that. Jesus strike her down this minute, she never suspected it. No wonder the upstart had ordered her about.

No wonder I . Canoodling openly in the kitchen here, brazen as brass the both of them! And look at the way she was got up. He could spend money on her yet he'd deprive another woman of an honest living. Big Dixon was the first case shed had in months, and she wouldn't have got her if he'd had anything to do with it. Why'd this carry-on not struck her before? By the God above, shed make it hot for him! So damned hot he'd be sorry he ever crossed her.

"I'll see you later, Sarah." Her eyes darted a malevolent glance at Rodney, and she withdrew her grim-lipped, fat face and dosed the door.

In making Rodney the father of Kate's child, Dorrie Clarke did not dream that she was defeating her own object; for he would become, for the mass of the people, a lad . someone human; in spite of him being a toff and different he would be one of themselves; various sections of the poor community would view his action in different lights, but most of them would want his attendance on them . and the reasons would have horrified some of the more respectable of them had they faced the truth, in their minds; her scandal was to enlarge his practice as hard work would never have done.

"That was Mrs. Clarke," said Sarah lamely. She had an uncomfortable feeling, although she could not explain why.

"Are you all right, doctor? Would you like a comb?"

"No, thanks, Mrs. Hannigan; I have one.... And, yes, I noticed that was my friend, Mrs. Clarke," he laughed, as he ran the comb through his hair; 'but we're not on speaking terms. And it's all through you, madam," he said, pointing the comb at Annie.

"You lose me a friend, then you pull out my hair.... Well, I must be off."

He took up his case.

"A happy Christmas to you, Kate. And to you, Mrs.

Hannigan. "

"A happy Christmas, doctor," they both said.

As the door closed behind him they looked at each "Isn't he a lovely man?" Sarah said.

"Yes; he seems very nice," Kate replied quietly.

"I wonder what brought Dome Clarke here," mused Sarah; 'she's no friend of mine. "

"Nor of him, by the