Baby Mine
Page 26
CHAPTER XXVI
Zoie had barely time to arrange herself after the manner of aninteresting invalid, when Alfred entered the room in the gayest ofspirits.
"Hello, dearie," he cried as he crossed quickly to her side.
"Already?" asked Zoie faintly and she glanced uneasily toward the door,through which Jimmy and Aggie had just disappeared.
"I told you I shouldn't be long," said Alfred jovially, and he implanteda condescending kiss on her forehead. "How is the little mother, eh?" heasked, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction.
"You're all cold," pouted Zoie, edging away, "and you've been drinking."
"I had to have one or two with the boys," said Alfred, throwing out hischest and strutting about the room, "but never again. From now on I cutout all drinks and cigars. This is where I begin to live my life for oursons."
"How about your life for me?" asked Zoie, as she began to see long yearsof boredom stretching before her.
"You and our boys are one and the same, dear," answered Alfred, comingback to her side.
"You mean you couldn't go on loving ME if it weren't for the BOYS?"asked Zoie, with anxiety. She was beginning to realise how completelyher hold upon him depended upon her hideous deception.
"Of course I could, Zoie," answered Alfred, flattered by what heconsidered her desire for his complete devotion, "but----"
"But not so MUCH," pouted Zoie.
"Well, of course, dear," admitted Alfred evasively, as he sank down uponthe edge of the bed by her side--
"You needn't say another word," interrupted Zoie, and then with a shadeof genuine repentance, she declared shame-facedly that she hadn't been"much of a wife" to Alfred.
"Nonsense!" contradicted the proud young father, "you've given me theONE thing that I wanted most in the world."
"But you see, dear," said Zoie, as she wound her little white arms abouthis neck, and looked up into his face adoringly, "YOU'VE been the 'ONE'thing that I wanted 'MOST' and I never realised until to-night how--howcrazy you are about things."
"What things?" asked Alfred, a bit puzzled.
"Well," said Zoie, letting her eyes fall before his and picking at a bitof imaginary lint on the coverlet, "babies and things."
"Oh," said Alfred, and he was about to proceed when she againinterrupted him.
"But now that I DO realise it," continued Zoie, earnestly, her fingerson his lips, lest he again interrupt, "if you'll only have a littlepatience with me, I'll--I'll----" again her eyes fell bashfully to thecoverlet, as she considered the possibility of being ultimately obligedto replace the bogus twins with real ones.
"All the patience in the world," answered Alfred, little dreaming of theproblem that confronted the contrite Zoie.
"That's all I ask," declared Zoie, her assurance completely restored,"and in case anything SHOULD happen to THESE----" she glanced anxiouslytoward the door through which Aggie had borne the twins.
"But nothing is going to happen to these, dear," interrupted Alfred,rising and again assuming an air of fatherly protection. "I'll attendto that. There, there," he added, patting her small shoulder and noddinghis head wisely. "That crazy woman has got on your nerves, but youneedn't worry, I've got everything fixed. Donneghey sent a specialofficer over with me. He's outside watching the house, now."
"Now!" shrieked Zoie, fixing her eyes on the bedroom door, through whichJimmy had lately disappeared and wondering whether he had yet "slipped"down the fire-escape.
"Yes," continued Alfred, walking up and down the floor with a masterlystride. "If that woman is caught hanging around here again, she'll get alittle surprise. My boys are safe now, God bless them!" Then reminded ofthe fact that he had not seen them since his return, he started quicklytoward the bedroom door. "I'll just have a look at the little rascals,"he decided.
"No, dear," cried Zoie. She caught Alfred's arm as he passed the side ofher bed, and clung to him in desperation. "Wait a minute."
Alfred looked down at her in surprise.
She turned her face toward the door, and called lustily, "Aggie! Aggie!"
"What is it, dear?" questioned Alfred, thinking Zoie suddenly ill, "canI get you something?"
Before Zoie was obliged to reply, Aggie answered her summons.
"Did you call?" she asked, glancing inquiringly into Zoie's distressedface.
"Alfred's here," said Zoie, with a sickly smile as she stroked his handand glanced meaningly at Aggie. "He's GOT the OFFICER!"
"The OFFICER?" cried Aggie, and involuntarily she took a step backward,as though to guard the bedroom door.
"Yes," said Alfred, mistaking Aggie's surprise for a compliment to hisresource; "and now, Aggie, if you'll just stay with Zoie for a minuteI'll have a look at my boys."
"No, no!" exclaimed Aggie, nervously, and she placed herself again infront of the bedroom door.
Alfred was plainly annoyed by her proprietory air.
"They're asleep," explained Aggie.
"I'll not WAKE them," persisted Alfred, "I just wish to have a LOOK atthem," and with that he again made a move toward the door.
"But Alfred," protested Zoie, still clinging to his hand, "you're notgoing to leave me again--so soon."
Alfred was becoming more and more restive under the seeming absurdity oftheir persistent opposition, but before he could think of a polite wayof over-ruling them, Aggie continued persuasively.
"You stay with Zoie," she said. "I'll bring the boys in here and you canboth have a look at them."
"But Aggie," argued Alfred, puzzled by her illogical behaviour, "wouldit be wise to wake them?"
"Just this once," said Aggie. "Now you stay here and I'll get them."Before Alfred could protest further she was out of the room and the doorhad closed behind her, so he resigned himself to her decision, banishedhis temporary annoyance at her obstinacy, and glanced about the roomwith a new air of proprietorship.
"This is certainly a great night, Zoie," he said.
"It certainly is," acquiesced Zoie, with an over emphasis that madeAlfred turn to her with new concern.
"I'm afraid that mad woman made you very nervous, dear," he said.
"She certainly did," said Zoie.
Zoie's nerves were destined to bear still further strain, for at thatmoment, there came a sharp ring at the door.
Beside herself with anxiety Zoie threw her arms about Alfred, who hadadvanced to soothe her, drew him down by her side and buried her head onhis breast.
"You ARE jumpy," said Alfred, and at that instant a wrangle of loudvoices, and a general commotion was heard in the outer hall. "What'sthat?" asked Alfred, endeavouring to disentangle himself from Zoie'sfrantic embrace.
Zoie clung to him so tightly that he was unable to rise, but his alertear caught the sound of a familiar voice rising above the din of disputein the hallway.
"That sounds like the officer," he exclaimed.
"The officer?" cried Zoie, and she wound her arms more tightly abouthim.