The girl cast her eyes to the rafters. There, the nets hung in strings and mingled their tassled ends with the dry herbs. There, somewhere, were that other pair of hands upholding her. She lowered her eyes again to the man.
"Don't you hear me talkin' to you?" he grated. "I said you were going today--but if you tell me--"
He bit off his words, her apparent helplessness shaming him to silence.
Then the import of what he had said flashed over Tessibel and she swayed backward. This small break in that superb calm brought Waldstricker forward the step the girl had yielded.
"Are you going to tell me?" he demanded again.
"Nope," said Tess rigidly, "Air I to go with ye now, this minute?"
He inclined his head with a bitter nod. "Yes," he snarled. He strode to the door, and addressed the officer. "Come in! Come in! She's a hardened huzzy.... Serve the warrant on her."
Tessibel took the paper but dropped it to the floor without glancing at it. She didn't care what it contained, for minute by minute came the sweet assurance from up there among the nets that God had heard and would answer.
The officer was staring at her, askance. He remembered distinctly when she had climbed up the ivy on the county jail to see her father. Then she had been a child. Now she was a woman. Being a good-hearted man, he hated his task, and a moment later hated it worse than ever. She sent him one pleading, heart-rending glance, then dropped her lids.
"Ye couldn't let me stay till after March?" she whispered. "If ye only would--"
It had been an effort to say it; an effort to both inclination and voice. It was as if her throat were filled with ashes ... nor could she finish the appeal.
"You can't stay even one day," thrust in Waldstricker, "I told you long ago what to expect.... Get your things together."
Tess made no move to obey. She was waiting for an answer from out of the dry nets, even from far behind the snow clouds where the blue slept.
"Get your things on," commanded the man, once more.
Oh, yes, she could do that! Putting on her things didn't say she was going. She turned mechanically, took down her coat and scarf. These she put on and went for her rubbers. She stood very near the wall as she bent dizzily to slip them on. All the time her soul was looking upward for the eternal answer, an answer from a power stronger than Waldstricker's.
Then she went slowly to the little box where she kept her hat. After brushing her hair back, she pinned it on in front of the mirror.
Today--well, now she was dressed, ready to go. She turned and came forward. The constable stared from Waldstricker back to her. Was this the girl who had stamped and screamed when Daddy Skinner had been taken to Auburn?
"Are you goin' without any fuss, miss?" he asked dully.
"If I go at all," was all Tess said.
At the door she flung back her head, her eyes searching the rafters.
Straight as knife cuts hung the broken strings of the unused nets, threaded here and there with wheels of silken cobwebs. Up through these Tessibel stared. Up and up, above the curling of the chimney smoke, up among the stars, up where the hands of love--God's hands, were ever spread in benediction over her own wild, beautiful world. She smiled as if responding to a smile. Waldstricker touching her made her turn suddenly.
The cold wind from the door just opened by the officer, swept her hot face. She flashed her eyes past him to the vast open stretches of winter, and there, standing in the lane, smiling directly back at her, was Deforrest Young. God in his own good time had sent her hands stronger than Waldstricker's.
CHAPTER XXXIV
LOVE AIR EVERYWHERE THE HULL TIME
The moment the red-brown eyes fell upon Professor Young, the pale face of the girl lit with a radiant smile.
"Oh, ye've come!... God sent ye, didn't He?"
At the sight of the tall, commanding lawyer, the officer and his powerful principal stepped each to one side of the path in front of the house and left Tess standing in the doorway, with trembling arms outstretched to her approaching friend. Young came directly to her, ignoring his brother-in-law.
"My dear," he murmured, snatching her hands, "you needed me! Poor child, you certainly did!"
"Are you coming in," pausing on the threshold, he spoke to Waldstricker, "or are you going on to Ithaca, Ebenezer?"
A smile passed over the elder's lips. He was secretly much amused at the professor's assumption of authority.
"I'm coming in," said he. "I've something to show you."
Evidently not impressed by his brother-in-law's statement, Deforrest led the passive girl back from the threshold of the shanty into the kitchen.
"Let me take off your wraps, dear child," he said tenderly.
Waldstricker's growing amusement found audible expression in a condescending laugh.
"Wait a minute, Forrie," he commanded, spreading his feet pompously.
"She can't take 'em off. She's coming with us."
"And why with you?" Young asked, in simulated surprise.
Waldstricker fairly gloated with joy. Never had he felt so righteous and uplifted. By his brother-in-law's actions, he was assured he did not know of the warrant for Tessibel Skinner. But the girl's attitude amazed him. To the quiet dignity with which she had submitted to arrest, there had succeeded an air of complete detachment as though her responsibility, even her interest in the matter, had wholly ceased.
Mutely watching the two strong men, she seemed like some small prey over which fierce forces fought. Young began to remove the hat from her bronze curls.
"We're going to take her away," cut in Waldstricker, putting one hand in his pocket.
"Where to?" demanded Young, laying the hat on the table.
"To a--to a--" Waldstricker hesitated.
The frown on Young's brow deepened. He had paused for the other's explanation, his under lip gathered between his teeth. Then, he laid his hand protectingly on that of the silent, white-faced girl. Tessibel's fingers turned upward and closed over his, and they stood thus a moment, Waldstricker contemplating them through half-closed lids, one corner of his mouth superciliously curled.
"You haven't told me where you were going to take her," Deforrest insisted.
Bitter anger rose in Eb's throat. He had been balked at every turn he'd taken against this red-headed girl, and instead of helping him, Deforrest was aiding her. He did not intend that Madelene should suffer any more, and he imagined his own home life would be more peaceful when Tessibel Skinner was wiped from its horizon.
"If you'll have it plain," he cried triumphantly, "she's going to be sent to a reform school! If ever a girl needed correcting, she does.
She's already been served with the warrant."
Young muttered under his breath. Holding out his hand, he said,
"Let me see the warrant."
Ebenezer pointed to the paper on the floor where Tess had dropped it.
Stooping, he picked it up.