Argosy, September 1955 — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 JOHN WYNDHAM Aunt Harriet broke into little moaning sobs. After a time my mother said, ‘“‘ Why did you come here, Harriet? Why did 50. bring it here? ”’ Aunt Harriet’s sobs grew less, slowly. She said, in a dull, flat voice, “‘ When she came—when I saw her, I wanted to kill myself. I knew they wouldn’t approve her, although it’s such a little thing. But I love her. She’s a lovely baby—but for that, isn’t she? ”’ My mother didn’t answer. Aunt Harriet went on, “ Well, then I thought at least I’d keep her as long as I could. The month they give you before you have to notify. I decided I’d have her for that long, at least.”’ ““And Henry? What did he say? ”’ ‘““ He said we ought to notify at once. But I wouldn’t let him— I. couldn’t, Emily, I couldn’t. I just prayed and hoped. And then when I heard your baby had come a month early .. .”’ ‘“* Harriet,” said my mother coldly, “I do not see what you mean.”’ “T thought,” Aunt Harriet went on, spiritless now, but forcing herself to the words, “‘ I thought that if I could leave my baby here, and borrow yours—”’ My mother gave an incredulous gasp. “It would only be for a day or two, just while I apply for the certificate,” Aunt Harriet went on. ‘‘ You are my sister, Emily— you are the only person in the world who can help me to keep my baby.” She began to cry again. There was a longish pause, and then my mother’s voice, “‘ In all my life I have never heard anything so outrageous. You produce a Deviation, and instead of hiding your shame, you come here suggesting that I should make an immoral, criminal conspiracy to... I think you must be mad, Harriet. ‘To suggest that I should lend—”’ She broke off at the sound of my father’s heavy step in the passage. ‘* Joseph,” she said, as he entered, ‘‘ get her out of this house— and see that she takes that with her.”’ ** But—but it’s Harriet, my dear,” ment. ‘‘ It’s Harriet.” My mother explained, fully. There wasn’t a sound from Aunt Harriet. At the end, he demanded incredulously, “Is this true? is this why you came here? ” Aunt Harriet said slowly, ‘‘ They’ll take my baby away. I can’t stand it—not again. Henry will turn me out and take another wife who can give him proper children. 'There’ll be nothing in the world left for me—nothing. I came here, hoping against hope for sympathy and help. I—I see now that I was foolish to hope at all.” Nobody said anything. ** All right—I’ll go now,”’ Aunt Harriet told them presently, in a dead voice said my father, in bewilder- commiclooks.conn