As she met his gaze--then, at last, she melted.

The lamplight showed her eyes brimming over with tears; her lips quivered, her breast heaved under the storm of resentment.
"How dare they say it ?" she cried.

"How dare they?
That I would harm a child?
A child ?" And, unable to go on, she held out protesting hands to him.

"And my mother?
My mother, who never injured any one or harmed a hair of any one's head! That she--that they should say that of her! That they should set that to her! But I will go this instant," impetuously, "to the child's mother.

She will hear me.