him,hadebetweenthem.Yet,whenherarmswereflungroundhisnedherfirayedthroughhishair,hesoftenedandkissedherwithrealaffe.Thereweretearsinhiseyesashewentdownstairs.

    Hismotherwaswaitingforhimbelow.Shegrumbledathisunpunctuality,asheentered.Hemadenoanswer,butsatdowntohismeagremeal.Thefliesbuzzedrouableandcrawledoverthestainedcloth.Throughtherumbleofomnibuses,aterofstreet-cabs,hecouldhearthedroningvoicedeveautethatwaslefttohim.

    Aftersometime,hethrustawayhisplateandputhisheadinhishands.Hefeltthathehadarighttoknow.Itshouldhavebeentoldtohimbefore,ifitwasashesuspected.Leadenwithfear,hismotherwatchedhim.Wordsdroppedmeicallyfromherlips.Atatteredladkerchieftwitchedinherfingers.Whentheclockstrucksix,hegotupaothedoor.Theurnedbadlookedather.Theireyesmet.Inhershesawaealformercy.Itenragedhim.

    "Mother,Ihavesomethingtoaskyou,"hesaid.Hereyeswanderedvaguelyabouttheroom.Shemadenoanswer."Tellmethetruth.Ihavearighttoknow.Wereyoumarriedtomyfather?"

    Sheheavedadeepsigh.Itwasasighofrelief.Theterriblemoment,themomentthatnightandday,forweeksandmonths,shehaddreaded,hadeatlast,ashefeltnoterror.Indeed,insomemeasureitwasadisappoioher.Thevulgardireessofthequestioncalledforadireswer.Thesituationhadnotbeengraduallyledupto.Itwascrude.Itremindedherofabadrehearsal.

    "No,"sheanswered,wattheharshsimplicityoflife.

    "Myfatherwasasdrelthen!"criedthelad,ghisfists.

    Sheshookherhead."Iknewhewasnotfree.Welovedeachotherverymuch.Ifhehadlived,