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I heard Robbie's voice, and looked up He stood at the railing, stuffing his shirt tails into his breeches Polo stood next to hiot to my feet and went toward him as he came down His hair was loose on his shoulders, his eyes still half asleep My heart stirred with joy I clasped an to flon s were bare, his shirt open I stared up at hih the rooht

"What happened to you?" he said, touching my cheek, and I suddenly remembered my monstrous appearance, the stripe on my face, my swollen eye

"My mother," I said, "whipped me"

"Whipped you?" His eyes widened, and his voice was sharper "Whipped you, Jessie?"

I noddedmy cheeks with my hands

"Why?"

I stared into his eyes, lit by the flame of the candle I loved him so completely How could he have ever doubted that ere ether? "I am with child, Robbie

Your child grows in me"

He sucked in his breath, and clutched at the stair rail

"With child?" he whispered, staring at me

"Yes, Robbie" I stepped close to him, took his free hand and placed it on own "Yes, Robbie Your child"

He sank to the botto the post, and his head sank forward "Oh, dear God in heaven"

A treh me "Robbie!" I said I clutched his hand, the nausea squeezing my head, and he leapt to his feet to catch ers met the painful stripes on my arms "I must lie down," I whispered

"Yes, you must," he said "Come I will take you to Cathy's room" We went slowly up the stairs, his ar his ar ater and ointment Quickly, now!"

In Cathy's rooht poured in through the high s fro the roo my weariness, then flinched at the re my hand