“But I’m not little now,” said the child quietly. “Mamma says I’m quite a companion to her, and she doesn’t know what she would do without me.”
“Indeed!” said Hallam sarcastically. “Well, suppose I give you some money, what shall you buy—a doll?”
She shook her head. “I’ve got five dolls now,” she said, counting on her little pink fingers, “mamma, papa, Thisbe, and me, and Mr Bayle.”
Hallam ground out an ejaculation, making the child start from him in alarm.
“Sit still, little one,” he said hastily. “Why, what’s the matter? Here, what would you do with the money?”
“Give it to mamma to pay Thisbe. Mamma was crying about wanting some money yesterday for grand-mamma.”
“Did your grandmother come and ask mamma for money yesterday?”
“Yes; she said grandpapa was so ill and worried that she did not know what to do.”
Hallam rose from his seat, setting down the child, and began walking quickly about the room, while the girl, after watching him for a few moments in silence, began to edge her way slowly towards the door, as if to escape.
She had nearly reached it when Hallam noticed her, and, catching her by the wrist, led her back to his chair, and reseated himself.