Page:Stella Dallas, a novel (IA stelladallasnove00prou).pdf/116

106 knew how, as he would a sick and unreasonable child—tolerated, indulged, and endured.

Stella's protestations quieted down. Her attacks of crying and abandonment to despair grew less violent, less frequent. They disappeared completely after a month or so. That was nature's way. Stephen knew that no emotion can continue long in intensity, in the consciousness of a human being. It runs a course, like a disease. Mercifully. Recuperation begins its gentle work, once facts are comprehended and accepted. Stephen expected that in time Stella would acquiesce and submit to "her inevitable." But he did not expect her acquiescence and submission to become interest and delight.

One evening in January she showed Stephen a little dress she had been working on in secret, daytimes, when he was absent, she explained. As she held it up by the arms for him to see, she gurgled with amusement and pleased satisfaction.

"Isn't 'he' cute?" she laughed delightedly.

Stephen stared at the little dress, amazed. Why, six weeks ago Stella had declared she wouldn't take a stitch for the baby! He couldn't refrain from reminding her of that.

"Well, what of it?" she shrugged. "I said all sorts of things then, in the beginning, when I was scared, I suppose. Oh, Stephen," she laughed good-naturedly, "you don't know beans about women. Why, I'm getting quite crazy about the baby now!"

Stephen looked at her sharply. Did the maternal instinct come alive suddenly in some women, like that?

"Really?"