Old Gentleman," said David thoughtfully.
"David!" Helena protested.
Benjamin Wright, looking down at the little figure planted in front of
her, seemed to see him for the first time.
"Who is this! Your child?"
"A little boy who is visiting me," she said. "David, run away."
Benjamin Wright made a sneering gesture. "No, no; don't dismiss him on
my account. But that a child should visit you is rather remarkable. I
should think his parents--"
"Hush!" she broke in violently, "Go, David, go!"
As the child went sulkily back to the garden, she turned upon her
visitor. "How dare you! Dr. Lavendar brought him to me; I will not
hear another word! And--and I don't know what you mean, anyhow. You
are a cruel old man; what have I ever done to you? I have never asked
your grandson to come here. I don't want him. I have told him so. And
I never asked you!"
Benjamin Wright cackled. "No; I have not been so far honored. I admit
that. You have kept us all at arm's length,--except my boy." Then,
bending his fierce brows on her, he added, "But what does Lavendar
mean by sending a child--to you? What's he thinking of? Except, of
course, he never had any sense. Old Chester is indeed a foolish place.
Well, madam, you will, I know, _protect yourself,_ by forbidding
my grandson to further inflict his company upon you? And I will remove
my own company, which is doubtless tiresome to you.
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