"Everything," said the doctor. "And you?"
"Everything," said Kate.
There was a long silence. Then Kate spoke slowly: "That George
didn't know that he shouldn't have touched that man, proves him
completely incompetent," she said. "That he did, and didn't have
the courage to face the results, proves him lacking in principle.
He's not fit for either work to which he aspires."
"You are talking too much," said the doctor. "Nurse Nepple is in
charge here, and Aunt Ollie. George's mother went to the farm to
cook for him. You're in the hands of two fine women, who will
make you comfortable. You have escaped lasting disgrace with your
skirts clear, now rest and be thankful."
"I can't rest until I know one thing," said Kate. "You're not
going to allow George to kill any one else?"
"No," said the doctor. "I regretted telling him very much; but I
had to tell him THAT could not happen."
"And about the school?" she asked. "I half thought he might get
it."
"He WON'T!" said the doctor. "I'm in a position to know that.
Now try to take some rest."
Kate waved toward the babies: "Will you please take them away
until they need me?" she asked.
"Of course," said the doctor. "But don't you want to see them,
Kate? There isn't a mark or blemish on either of them. The boy
weighs seven pounds and the girl six; they seem as perfect as
children can be."
"You needn't worry about that," said Kate. "Twins are a Bates
habit. My mother had three pairs, always a boy and a girl, always
big and sound as any children; mine will be all right, too."
The doctor started to turn back the blanket. Kate turned her head
away: "Don't you think I have had about enough at present?" she
asked. "I'd stake my life that as a little further piece of my
punishment, the girl looks exactly like Mrs. Holt."
"By Jove," said the doctor, "I couldn't just think who it was."
He carried the babies from the room, lowered the blinds, and Kate
tried to sleep, and did sleep, because she was so exhausted she
could not keep awake.
Later in the evening Aunt Ollie slipped in, and said George was in
the woodhouse, almost crying himself to death, and begging to see
her.
"You tell him I'm too sick to be seen for at least a week," said
Kate.
"But, my dear, he's so broken up; he feels so badly," begged Aunt
Ollie.
"So do I," said Kate. "I feel entirely too badly to be worried
over seeing him. I must take the babies now."
"I do wish you would!" persisted Aunt Ollie.
"Well, I won't," said Kate. "I don't care if I never see him
again. He knows WHY he is crying; ask him."