Down on my knees on the bare floor I held him close—close! and his arms were about my neck as though they never should unclasp.
“Take me away! Take me away!” His wet cheek was pressed against my own streaming one. “I want my mother! I want Daddy Arnett! Take me away!”
I wiped his cheeks with my notebook or something, picked him up in my arms, and started for the door. I had quite forgotten the fat matron.
“What are you doing?” she asked, blocking the doorway with her huge bulk.
“I’m going to take him back with me. Please let me! I’ll take care of him until the year is up. He shan’t bother you any more.”
“That is impossible,” she said, coldly. “He has been sent here by the court, for a year, and he must stay here. Besides, he is a stubborn, uncontrollable child.”
“Uncontrollable! He’s nothing of the kind! Why don’t you treat him as a child should be treated, instead of like a little animal? You don’t know him! Why, he’s the most lovable—! And he’s only a baby! Can’t you see that? A baby!”
She only stared her dislike, her little pig eyes grown smaller and more glittering.
“You great—big—thing!” I shrieked at her, like an infuriated child. With the tears streaming down my cheeks I unclasped Bennie’s cold hands from about my neck. He clung to me, frantically, until I had to push him away and run.
The woman swung the door shut, and locked it. But for all its thickness I could hear Bennie’s helpless fists pounding on its panels as I stumbled down the stairs, and Bennie’s voice came faintly to my ears, muffled by the heavy door, as he shrieked to me to take him away to his mother, and to Daddy Arnett.