Careni-Amori sang "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Nearer, my
God, to Thee," at the graveside. There were tears in a thousand
eyes, and every voice was husky. To most of these people, Betty
Cruise meant nothing, but she was to lie out there alone on the
wind-swept point, and they were deeply moved. They all went back
to work after the midday meal, a strangely silent, thoughtful
company,--even down to the lowliest "Portugee."
Mr. Mott, the gaunt old cynic, surprised every one, including
himself, by adopting the infant! He announced his decision on the
day after the funeral.
"That baby's got to have a father and a grandfather and a mother,
and all that," he declared to Captain Trigger, "and I'm going to be
all of them, Weatherby. It ain't legal, I know, and I reckon I'll
have to turn her over to her proper relatives if they make any
demand,--provided we ever get off this island,--but while she's
here she's mine, and that settles it, and as long afterward as God's
willing. Chances are that no one at home will want to be bothered
with an infant that don't actually belong to 'em, so I shouldn't
wonder but what I'll have her always. What are you laughing at?"
"I was just thinking that you didn't mention anything about being
a grandmother to her.
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