Chapter 34

“Well, that’s almost all. I came home. I wasn’t really so very unhappy. I suppose I should have been—but I wasn’t. Father wasn’t hard on me. And my baby was so sweet, Valancy—with such lovely blue eyes—and little rings of pale gold hair like silk floss—and tiny dimpled hands. I used to bite his satin-smooth little face all over—softly, so as not to hurt him, you know——” “I know,” said Valancy, wincing. “I know—a woman _always_ knows—and dreams——” “And he was _all_ mine. Nobody else had any claim on him. When he die…