'Either
you take the child or I send somebody to Edgewood with him,
somebody to tell the whole story. Some of the Cochranites can
support him if you won't; or, at the worst, Aaron Boynton's town
can take care of his son. The doctor has given me two days to
live. If it's a minute longer I've warned him and I warn you,
that I'll end it myself; and if you don't take the boy I'll do
the same for him. He's a good sight better off dead than knocking
about the world alone; he's innocent and there's no sense in his
being punished for the sins of other folks.'"
"I see it all! Why did I never think of it before; my poor, poor
Rod!" said Ivory, clenching his hands and burying his head in
them.
"Don't grieve, Ivory; it has all turned out so much better than
we could have hoped; just listen to the end. She was frightful to
hear and to look at, the girl was, though all the time I could
feel that she must have had a gipsy beauty and vigor that
answered to something in your father.
"'Go along out now,' she cried suddenly. 'I can't stand anybody
near. The doctor never gives me half enough medicine and for the
hour before he comes I fairly die for lack of it--though little
he cares! Go upstairs and have your sleep and to-morrow you can
make up your mind.
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