That evening Mr. Gooch went home with the Ivys whom, as he was now adrift, he purposed adopting. For a long time they sat over the fire discussing the exciting events of the day.
"I could scarcely believe my eyes," murmured Mrs. Ivy, "when at the verdict," Not Guilty," I saw her fling her arms about his neck!"
"Why surprised?" snapped the attorney. "Aren"t women born fatuous?"
"But the whole thing is so indelicate, so heartless! A young widow who ought to be mourning beside her husband"s grave, and a wild young man who has just escaped the penitentiary. Hasn"t suffering taught them anything?"
Gerald, sitting on a ha.s.sock before the fire with hands clasped about his knees, looked up with shining eyes:
"You don"t understand, Mater! All this has been the price they"ve paid for each other. A great love like theirs comes high. One must pay for it with suffering. Jove, it was worth it! That one look they gave each other, there at the end--",
"But the dear, dear Doctor," interrupted Mrs. Ivy, "laid away only seven months ago!"
"Six months and three weeks," corrected Mr. Gooch testily.
THE END