It would be well to cite a little episode which had happened only a few days before. Benson had gotten it into his mind that Biddy interfered with Nellie as far as he was concerned; that is, influenced her against him, so he determined to banish the woman from the house, and with this intention he set about finding a woman who would take Biddy’s place.
One morning he sent a peremptory message to Nellie to come to him in the library, which was his favorite place to meet her.
“Helen,” said he, rising at her entrance, “you will listen to what I am going to say to you, and know, please, before I begin, that it is for your own good that I speak.”
“Then do not hesitate,” replied the girl with so much sarcasm in her voice that the man’s face flooded with color.
“Please do not use that tone to me,” said he sternly.
“Very well,” and Helen sank gracefully back into her seat.
“Helen,” and Benson commenced in low, measured tones, “you are much younger than I am, but that is no reason why I should not care for you or you for me. I am only your second cousin.”
The man paused a moment, and Nellie, thinking it incumbent upon her to speak, said:
“I do not see what you mean.”
“This,” replied Benson. “Nellie, I love you. I want you to be my wife, and because I do love you I desire that you should come under good influence, and I require that you should allow Biddy to leave this house. It is a shame to keep her here.”