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.
"Oh, don't shake your head, Frederick!" cried Tess, frantically.
"Please!... Please!... Me an' the baby won't be any bother to you!...
We'll jest love ye always an' forever, me an' the baby will....
"Ye could save us that way! Ye needn't tell 'em anythin' but that!"
Suddenly another thought took possession of her.
"What else did Mrs. Waldstricker say?" she demanded. "What were ye both wantin' me to do?"
"Mr. Waldstricker told his wife and my--I mean Madelene--that you'll either be sent away or must marry--marry Lysander Letts."
Tess stared at him wildly as though he were going mad. Or _was_ she losing her reason! What awful thing had he said. Lysander Letts--surely she had not heard straight.
"Ye weren't tellin' me what were true, Frederick," she whimpered overwhelmed. "Oh, ye scared me so!"
"But I am telling you the truth!" he exclaimed miserably. His voice broke. "I can't save you, Tessibel. Waldstricker can do anything he wants. Why--why--Waldstricker's hands're stronger--are stronger than God's."
She heard his words as if in a dream. "Stronger'n God's," echoed through the recesses of her brain in fearful mockery. She was lost, engulfed in the hatred of Waldstricker. She saw through the mist over her eyes, Lysander Letts leering menacingly at her. She sat very still and held her breath. If she let it go, her heart would break.
"Stronger'n God's," were the only words she remembered. Then, if that were true, and Frederick had said it--then--then, nothing--nobody--could take from her this brimming cup of disgrace and destruction. She struggled to her feet, walked to the door and opened it. Her eyes sought the dejected looking man.
"I air askin' ye to go now, please, right now," she said quietly. "Tell Mrs. Waldstricker, I air much obliged."
"And haven't you something to say to me, Tess?... Oh, God, don't send me away like this!"
She laid one hand on her heart. "Only go," she whispered, "an' never, never come again!"
Frederick stepped over the threshold, and Tess shut the door behind him.
CHAPTER XXXIII
HANDS STRONGER THAN WALDSTRICKER'S