“Laugh away,” she said.  “I’ve got something to fight with this baby; I don’t propose for the battle to come and find the chances against me, because I’m unprepared.”

With scrupulous care Kate watched over the child, always putting her first, the house and land afterward.  One day she looked up the road and saw Henry Peters coming.  She had been expecting Nancy Ellen.  She had finished bathing the baby and making her especially attractive in a dainty lace ruffled dress with blue ribbons and blue shoes that her sister had brought on her latest trip.  Little Poll was a wonderful picture, for her eyes were always growing bigger, her cheeks pinker, her skin fairer, her hair longer and more softly curling.  At first thought Kate had been inclined to snatch off the dress and change to one of the cheap, ready-made ginghams Henry brought, but the baby was so lovely as she was, she had not the heart to spoil the picture, while Nancy Ellen might come any minute.  So she began putting things in place while Little Poll sat crowing and trying to pick up a sunbeam that fell across her tray.  Her father came to the door and stood looking at her.  Suddenly he dropped in a chair, covered his face with his hands and began to cry, in deep, shuddering sobs.  Kate stood still in wonderment.  As last she seated herself before him and said gently:  “Won’t you tell me about it, Henry?”

Henry struggled for self-control.  He looked at the baby longingly.  Finally he said:  “It’s pretty tough to give up a baby like that, Mrs. Holt.  She’s my little girl.  I wish God had struck my right hand with palsy, when I went to sign those papers.”

“Oh, no, you don’t, Henry,” said Kate, suavely.  “You wouldn’t like to live the rest of your life a cripple.  And is it any worse for me to have your girl in spite of the real desires and dictates of your heart, than it was for you to have mine?  And you didn’t take the intelligent care of my girl that I’m taking of yours, either.  A doctor and a little right treatment at the proper time would have saved Polly to rear her own baby; but there’s no use to go into that.  I was waiting for Polly to come home of her own accord, as she left it; and while I waited, a poison crept into her system that took her.  I never shall feel right about it; neither shall you —­ "

“No, I should say I won’t!” said Henry emphatically.  “I never thought of anything being the matter with Polly that wouldn’t be all over when the baby came —­ "

“I know you didn’t, Henry,” said Kate.  “I know how much you would have done, and how gladly, if you had known.  There is no use going into that, we are both very much to blame; we must take our punishment.  Now what is this I hear about your having been to see lawyers and trying to find a way to set aside the adoption papers you signed?  Let’s have a talk, and see what we can arrive at.  Tell me all about it.”