If they were telling you so much, did they say which hand was for being off that lost boy ?" The Angel's eyes escaped again.
"It--it was the same as yours," she ventured, barely breathing in her fear.
Still Freckles lay rigid and whiter than the coverlet.
"Would that boy be as old as me ?" he asked.
"Yes," said the Angel faintly.
"Angel," said Freckles at last, catching her wrist, "are you trying to tell me that there is somebody hunting a boy that you're thinking might be me?
Are you belavin' you've found me relations ?" Then the Angel's eyes came home.

The time had come.

She pinioned Freckles' arms to his sides and bent above him.
"How strong are you, dear heart ?" she breathed.

"How brave are you?
Can you bear it?
Dare I tell you that ?" "No!" gasped Freckles.

"Not if you're sure! I can't bear it! I'll die if you do!" The day had been one unremitting strain with the Angel.