She dropped her chin into her hands with a touching gesture of pathos. Frederick bent nearer.
"Tess, Mrs. Waldstricker sent me with a message--and you've got to do what I want you to."
His strangely persistent reiteration that she should do his will served only to produce another, "Why don't ye tell me, then?" from Tess.
"You must do something to save yourself!" he cried.
To save herself? What did he mean by saving herself? What did any one intend to do? She'd stayed so alone no one could intrude upon her now. And then, there was Andy, poor forlorn little man!
"Is anyone goin' to hurt me?" she faltered, faint and frightened.
"Yes, dearest, yes, and you must--"
He was on his feet and Tess struggled up, too.
"What've I got to do?" she breathed miserably.
"Tess," he groaned, "can't you understand how much I love you; that I would save you if I could?"
With uplifted hand, he tried to raise her face to his.
"Don't!" she cried, pushing him away. "Tell me what Mrs. Waldstricker said!"
"You've got to do it, dear," urged Frederick, "or they'll take you away."
"What do ye mean by takin' me away?" she implored, moving a frightened step backward. "Who's goin' to try to take me any place?"
"Why--why--Mrs. Waldstricker says--"
He paused so long Tess could not bear the suspense.
"Oh, tell me!" she gasped. "Can't ye see ye air killin' me?"
Frederick began again.
"Mr. Ebenezer Waldstricker--"
Tess swayed on her feet.
"What air he goin' to do?" she panted.
Had her enemy discovered she was protecting Andy?
"He's going to take you to a--a--" stammered Frederick.
Tessibel grew faint and dizzy. She uttered a sharp scream.
"A reform school!" she cried.
"Yes."
The blow had fallen at last! She would be dragged from her home, up before the eyes of the world in all her illness and shame. Then she sank to the floor in abandoned misery.
"Oh, Frederick, save me!" she wailed. "Don't let him take me away, and I'll promise never to go outside the shanty. Oh, make him let me stay! Why can't I stay, oh, why can't I?"
"Waldstricker says you've got to go," said Frederick, sadly.
Tess sat up and flung back her curls.
"Well, he don't own the hull world, does he.... Couldn't you, well couldn't you say somethin' to make him let me be?"
"I don't know what to say," the boy mumbled.
"Couldn't ye tell 'em?" entreated Tess. "Please listen. Couldn't ye--couldn't ye tell Mr. Waldstricker 'bout our little baby--our baby, Frederick?"
He refused by a negative gesture of head and hand.