Tristram, I want to be happy." "Oh, I wish to God they'd done it!" she burst out, from between clenched teeth. "Oh, why didn't they? He's goaded them enough. One of these days they'll murder us all for his sake. He's a devil. He's made life a hell. He likes to make suffering. He likes to see us wince. Oh, if he were only dead!" Suddenly the tense mask of hatred broke up into piteous lines of helpless misery. Two great tears rolled unheeded down her white cheeks. "Anne talked about bearing our cross, and prayer, and God's will," she went on chokingly. "But I want to be happy, Major Tristram, I want to be happy." "You have an absolute right to happiness," he answered. "You've got to be happy, Mrs. Boucicault. I'm going to see to it." "You have an absolute right to happiness," he answered. "You've got to be happy, Mrs. Boucicault. I'm going to see to it." She dropped back wearily among her cushions. Her grey eyes, now pale and faded-looking, rested on his face with a childish questioning. She dropped back wearily among her cushions. Her grey eyes, now pale and faded-looking, rested on his face with a childish questioning. "You talk as though—as though you could." "You talk as though—as though you could." "Well, I can do something—I promise you. Close your eyes." "Well, I can do something—I promise you. Close your eyes." She closed them at once, and he took his handkerchief and brushed the tears from her cheeks. Then he resumed his kneeling position, her hand in his, soothing it much as he had soothed the frightened, broken-winged bird. Once she sighed deeply, as if released from some stifling weight, and thereafter her breathing sounded quiet and regular. By the time Anne Boucicault returned, her mother had dropped into a heavy sleep. She closed them at once, and he took his handkerchief and brushed the tears from her cheeks. Then he resumed his kneeling position, her hand in his, soothing it much as he had soothed the frightened, broken-winged bird. Once she sighed deeply, as if released from some stifling weight, and thereafter her breathing sounded quiet and regular. By the time Anne Boucicault returned, her mother had dropped into a heavy sleep. Major Tristram got up noiselessly, and motioned the girl
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