She maintained she only dosed
the child to keep her from sufferin'. I didn't believe her, but we
had nothing to set up against her."
Mrs. Tracy became as erect and fierce in aspect as such a delicate
creature could become. The long veil of crape which hung from her
bonnet and swept the floor, emphasizing the blackness of all her
other garments, trembled as she rose.
"Why am I sitting here and waiting for anything, when that woman is
claiming my child for her own? The idea of anybody's daring to own my
child! It is more cruel than abuse. I never thought of their being
able to teach her to forget me--that they could confuse her mamma
with another person in her mind!"
"You're tired out," said the lawyer, "and matters are moving just as
rapidly as if you were chasing over all the roads in Hancock County.
You must quiet yourself, ma'am, or you'll break down."
Mrs. Tracy made apparent effort to quiet herself. She took hold of
Grandma Padgett's arm when they were called out to dinner. Robert
walked on the other side of her, having her hand on his shoulder and
aunt Corinne went behind, carrying the end of the crape veil as if
Fairy Carrie's real mother could thus receive support and consolation
through the back of the head.
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