Chapter 1

Stephen Norman of Normanstand had remained a bachelor until close on
middle age, when the fact took hold of him that there was no immediate
heir to his great estate. Whereupon, with his wonted decision, he set
about looking for a wife.

He had been a close friend of his next neighbour, Squire Rowly, ever
since their college days. They had, of course, been often in each
other's houses, and Rowly's young sister--almost a generation younger
than himself, and the sole fruit of his father's second marriage--had
been like a little sister to him too. She had, in the twenty years which
had elapsed, grown to be a sweet and beautiful young woman. In all the
past years, with the constant opportunity which friendship gave of close
companionship, the feeling never altered. Squire Norman would have been
surprised had he been asked to describe Margaret Rowly and found himself
compelled to present the picture of a woman, not a child.

Now, however, when his thoughts went womanward and wifeward, he awoke to
the fact that Margaret came within the category of those he sought. His
usual decision ran its course. Semi-brotherly feeling gave place to a
stronger and perhaps more selfish feeling. Before he even knew it, he
was head over ears in love with his pretty neighbour.

Norman was a fine man, stalwart and handsome; his forty years sat so
lightly on him that his age never seemed to come into question in a
woman's mind. Margaret had always liked him and trusted him; he was the
big brother who had no duty in the way of scolding to do. His presence
had always been a gladness; and the sex of the girl, first unconsciously
then consciously, answered to the man's overtures, and her consent was
soon obtained.

When in the fulness of time it was known that an heir was expected,
Squire Norman took for granted that the child would be a boy, and held
the idea so tenaciously that his wife, who loved him deeply, gave up
warning and remonstrance after she had once tried to caution him against
too fond a hope. She saw how bitterly he would be disappointed in case
it should prove to be a girl. He was, however, so fixed on the point
that she determined to say no more. After all, it might be a boy; the
chances were equal. The Squire would not listen to any one else at all;
so as the time went on his idea was more firmly fixed than ever. His
arrangements were made on the base that he would have a son. The name
was of course decided. Stephen had been the name of all the Squires of
Normanstand for ages--as far back as the records went; and Stephen the
new heir of course would be.

Like all middle-aged men with young wives he was supremely anxious as the
time drew near. In his anxiety for his wife his belief in the son became
passive rather than active. Indeed, the idea of a son was so deeply
fixed in his mind that it was not disturbed even by his anxiety for the
young wife he idolised.

When instead of a son a daughter was born, the Doctor and the nurse, who
knew his views on the subject, held back from the mother for a little the
knowledge of the sex. Dame Norman was so weak that the Doctor feared
lest anxiety as to how her husband would bear the disappointment, might
militate against her. Therefore the Doctor sought the Squire in his
study, and went resolutely at his task.

'Well, Squire, I congratulate you on the birth of your child!' Norman
was of course struck with the use of the word 'child'; but the cause of
his anxiety was manifested by his first question:

'How is she, Doctor? Is she safe?' The child was after all of secondary
importance! The Doctor breathed more freely; the question had lightened
his task. There was, therefore, more assurance in his voice as he
answered:

'She is safely through the worst of her trouble, but I am greatly anxious
yet. She is very weak. I fear anything that might upset her.'

The Squire's voice came quick and strong:

'There must be no upset! And now tell me about my son?' He spoke the
last word half with pride, half bashfully.

'Your son is a daughter!' There was silence for so long that the Doctor
began to be anxious. Squire Norman sat quite still; his right hand
resting on the writing-table before him became clenched so hard that the
knuckles looked white and the veins red. After a long slow breath he
spoke:

'She, my daughter, is well?' The Doctor answered with cheerful alacrity:

'Splendid!--I never saw a finer child in my life. She will be a comfort
and an honour to you!' The Squire spoke again:

'What does her mother think? I suppose she's very proud of her?'

'She does not know yet that it is a girl. I thought it better not to let
her know till I had told you.'

'Why?'

'Because--because--Norman, old friend, you know why! Because you had set
your heart on a son; and I know how it would grieve that sweet young wife
and mother to feel your disappointment. I want your lips to be the first
to tell her; so that on may assure her of your happiness in that a
daughter has been born to you.'

The Squire put out his great hand and laid it on the other's shoulder.
There was almost a break in his voice as he said:

'Thank you, my old friend, my true friend, for your thought. When may I
see her?'

'By right, not yet. But, as knowing your views, she may fret herself
till she knows, I think you had better come at once.'

All Norman's love and strength combined for his task. As he leant over
and kissed his young wife there was real fervour in his voice as he said:

'Where is my dear daughter that you may place her in my arms?' For an
instant there came a chill to the mother's heart that her hopes had been
so far disappointed; but then came the reaction of her joy that her
husband, her baby's father, was pleased. There was a heavenly dawn of
red on her pale face as she drew her husband's head down and kissed him.

'Oh, my dear,' she said, 'I am so happy that you are pleased!' The nurse
took the mother's hand gently and held it to the baby as she laid it in
the father's arms.

He held the mother's hand as he kissed the baby's brow.

The Doctor touched him gently on the arm and beckoned him away. He went
with careful footsteps, looking behind as he went.

After dinner he talked with the Doctor on various matters; but presently
he asked:

'I suppose, Doctor, it is no sort of rule that the first child regulates
the sex of a family?'

'No, of course not. Otherwise how should we see boys and girls mixed in
one family, as is nearly always the case. But, my friend,' he went on,
'you must not build hopes so far away. I have to tell you that your wife
is far from strong. Even now she is not so well as I could wish, and
there yet may be change.' The Squire leaped impetuously to his feet as
he spoke quickly:

'Then why are we waiting here? Can nothing be done? Let us have the
best help, the best advice in the world.' The Doctor raised his hand.

'Nothing can be done as yet. I have only fear.'

'Then let us be ready in case your fears should be justified! Who are
the best men in London to help in such a case?' The Doctor mentioned two
names; and within a few minutes a mounted messenger was galloping to
Norcester, the nearest telegraph centre. The messenger was to arrange
for a special train if necessary. Shortly afterwards the Doctor went
again to see his patient. After a long absence he came back, pale and
agitated. Norman felt his heart sink when he saw him; a groan broke from
him as the Doctor spoke:

'She is much worse! I am in great fear that she may pass away before the
morning!' The Squire's strong voice was clouded, with a hoarse veil as
he asked:

'May I see her?'

'Not yet; at present she is sleeping. She may wake strengthened; in
which case you may see her. But if not--'

'If not?'--the voice was not like his own.

'Then I shall send for you at once!' The Doctor returned to his vigil.
The Squire, left alone, sank on his knees, his face in his hands; his
great shoulders shook with the intensity of his grief.

An hour or more passed before he heard hurried steps. He sprang to the
door:

'Well?'

'You had better come now.'

'Is she better?'

'Alas! no. I fear her minutes are numbered. School yourself, my dear
old friend! God will help you in this bitter hour. All you can do now
is to make her last moments happy.'

'I know! I know!' he answered in a voice so calm that his companion
wondered.

When they came into the room Margaret was dozing. When her eyes opened
and she found her husband beside her bed there spread over her face a
glad look; which, alas! soon changed to one of pain. She motioned to him
to bend down. He knelt and put his head beside her on the pillow; his
arms went tenderly round her as though by his iron devotion and strength
he would shield her from all harm. Her voice came very low and in broken
gasps; she was summoning all her strength that she might speak:

'My dear, dear husband, I am so sad at leaving you! You have made me so
happy, and I love you so! Forgive me, dear, for the pain I know you will
suffer when I am gone! And oh, Stephen, I know you will cherish our
little one--yours and mine--when I am gone. She will have no mother; you
will have to be father and mother too.'

'I will hold her in my very heart's core, my darling, as I hold you!' He
could hardly speak from emotion. She went on:

'And oh, my dear, you will not grieve that she is not a son to carry on
your name?' And then a sudden light came into her eyes; and there was
exultation in her weak voice as she said:

'She is to be our only one; let her be indeed our son! Call her the name
we both love!' For answer he rose and laid his hand very, very tenderly
on the babe as he said:

'This dear one, my sweet wife, who will carry your soul in her breast,
will be my son; the only son I shall ever have. All my life long I
shall, please Almighty God, so love her--our little Stephen--as you and I
love each other!'

She laid her hand on his so that it touched at once her husband and her
child. Then she raised the other weak arm, and placed it round his neck,
and their lips met. Her soul went out in this last kiss.