ted. "He was never with my mother. I did not
understand until long afterward, but she meant me to understand--that
she was not married. She impressed it upon my consciousness _for_ me to
understand--when I was older."

Beth could have knelt in her humility that moment.

"Please forgive me for asking," she faltered.

"It was right. I intended to tell you."

Some strange, sustaining atmosphere came from him. His words lifted
her. Beth saw upon his brow and face the poise and fineness of a
love-child.... With all the mother's giving there had been no name for
him; and he had told her with all the ease and grace of one who knows
in his heart--a mother's purity of soul.... It was hard for Beth to
realize, with Bedient sitting there, that the world makes tragic
secrets of these things he had told her; that lives of lesser men have
been ruined with the fear of such discoveries.... Nothing of so intense
and intimate appeal had ever come to her studio, as the heroism of this
mother, impressing upon her tortured and desperate child, that though
taken from him, she would be near always.... The sensitive Vina had
seemed to see the mother _near_ him, her hand upon his head, saying
with a laugh, "This is my Art--and he _lives_!"

Beth spoke at last: "You honor me, Mr. Bedient, in telling me these
deep things."

"This seemed the place," he said, leaning forward. "It's extraordinary
when I recall I have only been here an hour or so. It would seem absurd
to some women, but the story knew where it belonged.... In fact, it is
hard for me to remember that this is our first talk alone.... Perhaps
you should know, that I've never spoken of my mother to anyone else....
I never could find the port where she died."

They learned that they could be silent together.... Beth knew that she
would have extended conference with the Shadowy Sister when alone. Big
things were enacting in the depths. There was another thing that Vina
had said regarding the appeal of Bedient personally to her, which
required much understanding.... Beth had found herself thinking (in
Bedient's presence) that she might have been hasty and imperious in
sending the Other away. She had been rather proud of her iron courage
up to this hour. Of course, it was ridiculous that Bedient should
recall the Other, and after months suggest her unreasonableness; yet
these things recurred.... Moreover, a moment after Bedient's entering,
there had been no embarrassment between them