. "_She_ overlook? _She_?"
"I am younger," the boy said; "but love isn't a matter of age. It's a
matter of the soul."
"A matter of the soul!" said Benjamin Wright; "a matter of--of a
sugar-tit for a toothless baby! Which is just about what you are. That
female, I tell you could have dandled you on her knee ten years ago."
Sam got up; he was trembling all over.
"You needn't insult me," he said.
Instantly his grandfather was calm. He stopped chewing orange-skin,
and looked hard at his ridgy finger-nails.
"I shall ask her again," Sam said. "I said I wouldn't, but I will. I
must. That was why I came back. And as for my age, that's her business
and mine."
"You've drunk too much," said his grandfather, "Sit down. I've
something to say to you. You can't marry that woman. Do you understand
me?"
"You mean she doesn't care for me?" Sam laughed noisily. "I'll make
her. Old--young--what does it matter? She must!" He flung up his
arms, and then sank down and hid his face in his hands.
"Sammy," said the old man, and stopped. "Sam, it can't be. Don't you
understand me? She isn't fit to marry."
The young man gaped at him, blankly.
"She's--bad," Benjamin Wright said, in a low voice.
"How dare you!" cried the other, his frowning bewilderment changing
slowly to fury; "how dare you? If she had a relative here to protect
her, you would never dare! If her brother was here, he would shoot
you; but she has me, and I--"
"Her _brother_!" said Benjamin Wright; "Sam, my boy, he isn't her
brother.
Pages:
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244