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She opened it, tore it from its envelope, and read the contents: "DEAR POPSY, I came across a cheap lot of frocks the other day at a bankrupt's sale, and thought at once of Little-sing and her daughter Popsy-wopsy. I am sending the dresses off to you without saying a word to Little-sing. You will be well off now for some time, and won't require the five pounds from me for dress at Christmas.
You will no longer be his 'Goddess, 'Angel, 'Popsy Wopsy, 'Queen of his heart. There are finer names than these: wife, mother, priestess in the temple of humanity. Marriage is renunciation, the sacrifice of Self upon the altar of the race. 'A trick of Nature' you call it. Perhaps. But a trick of Nature compelling you to surrender yourself to the purposes of God."
Do you mind if I call you Popsy?" "Huh?" He had been really startled at that. If he needed any further proof of Dearest's independent existence, that was it. Never, in the uttermost depths of his subconscious, would he have been likely to label himself Popsy. "Know what they used to call me in the Army?" he asked. "Slaughterhouse Hampton.
"He's got brains, hasn't he?" "Yes; he's smart; mighty smart." The old man's face relaxed in a shrewd grin. "Too damn smart. Giddap, Bet." And he was gone. Jane stood looking after the ancient phaeton with an expression half of amusement, half of discomfiture. "I might have known," reflected she, "that popsy would see through it all."
"It's all over, now; you won't have anything to worry about, any more. But, oh, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it!" "My God, Dearest!" He almost spoke aloud. "Did you make her do that?" "Popsy!" The voice in his mind was grief-stricken. "You.... You're afraid of me! Never be afraid of Dearest, Popsy! And don't hate me for this. It was the only thing I could do.
"Oh, no; we have such good times," said Jean enthusiastically. "And if we gave it up, you never would get your stockings darned, either." "Oh!" And the doctor lapsed into silence. "What made you ask, papa?" inquired Polly. "Mere curiosity." "I know better than that," she said, seizing his hand as it lay on the table. "Now, popsy Adams, you just tell us what you are driving at."
Felix shook his head. "I am afraid we could never do that, unless we locked him up in the cellar and did not give him a thing to eat until everything was ready. Oh, just think how he would beg for mercy!" Masie rubbed her cheek up and down that of Felix in disapproval. "No, you wouldn't be so mean to poor Popsy."
And you do, you pore old Pap, so you must take it." Pap took the money in silence. George Leadham had turned aside, unable to speak. I stood behind the door, out of sight. Sissy stared anxiously at Pap. "Popsy said you wouldn't come, but I knew you would," she sighed. "Good-bye, you pore old Pap." She closed her eyes, but she held Pap's hand.
"Well, missie miss, poor Bo-peep means to marry your good ma, and he wants a nice 'ittle dirl to come and live with ma and pa at Clapham; pretty house, solid furniture, garden stocked with fruit-trees, a swing for good 'ittle dirl, a nice room for dear Popsy to sleep in, no more lessons, no more fuss, no more POVERTY! That's what new pa proposes to ma's 'ittle dirl. What does 'ittle dirl say?"
There's room enough for both of us here." "Yessuh; thank yo', suh." The old ex-sergeant resumed his soft humming, keeping time with the brush in his hand. "You know, Popsy, I think he knows I'm here," Dearest said. "Nothing definite, of course; he just feels there's something here that he can't see." "I wonder. I've noticed something like that. Funny, he doesn't seem to mind, either.
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