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No! Maybe I almost have—lately—but only when I thought of his baby! Now I hate him!

[She begins to weep hysterically. goes to her and puts her arms around her. sobs out]

Don’t touch me! I hate you, too! Why didn’t you tell him he must never marry!

What reason could I give, without telling him everything? And I never heard about you till after you were married. Then I wanted to write to you but I was scared he might read it. And I couldn’t leave her upstairs to come away to see you. I kept writing Sammy to bring you here right off, although having him come frightened me to death for fear he might get to suspect something. You got to get him right away from here, Nina! I just kept hoping you wouldn’t want children right away—young folks don’t nowadays—until I’d seen you and told you everything. And I thought you’d love him like I did his father, and be satisfied with him alone.

[Lifting her head—wildly]

No! I don’t! I won’t! I’ll leave him!

[Shaking her, fiercely]

You can’t! He’d go crazy sure then! You’d be a devil! Don’t you see how he loves you?