The man did not speak.
“Tell me, Tom, was that island in the fairy story—was that Blackwell’s Island?”
“Yes.”
This one word fell from the man’s lips as if all hope had left him, and he knew that they would tear from him his darling, and that he would spend the rest of his days in prison.
Benson now came forward, trying to take Nellie’s hand in his.
“My dear little cousin, you cannot again be taken from me. I have searched the city for you, and now you shall take your position in life, and be the rich girl you ought to be.”
“I do not want to go with you,” said she mournfully.
“But you must.”
“I will not.”
The more she contemplated the step the more she shuddered, and she did not intend that Tom should be taken from her.