On his feet, with
exaggerated politeness, he took off his hat with a sweeping bow.
"Madam, your very obedient!"
"Good afternoon," she said breathlessly.
Benjamin Wright, tottering a little, changed his cane from his left to
his right hand, and chewed orange-skin fiercely. "I have called,
madam--"
But she interrupted him. "Won't you come in and sit down, sir? And
pray allow me to get you a glass of wine."
"Come in? No, madam, no. We are simple rustics here in Old Chester; we
must not presume to intrude upon a lady of such fashion as you. I fear
that some of us have already presumed too much"--he paused for breath,
but lifted one veined old hand to check her protest--"too much, I say!
Far too much! I come, madam, to apologize, and to tell you--" Again he
stopped, panting; "to tell you that I insist that you forbid further
intrusion--at least on the part of my grandson."
"But," she said, the color hot in her face, "he does not intrude. I
don't know what you mean. I--"
"Oh, madam, you are too kind, I am sure you know what I mean; it is
your excessive kindness that permits the visits of a foolish boy--
wearying, I am sure, to a lady so accustomed to the world. I will ask
you to forbid those visits. Do you hear me?" he cried shrilly,
pounding the gravel with his cane. "Gad-a-mercy! Do you hear me? You
will forbid his visits!"
"You are not very polite, Mr.
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