She carried the tottering child part of the way.
“Ah, little girl,” pleaded she when they were in sight of the mansion, “won’t you be a good girl and walk now? Mother’s arms are so tired.”
“Helen will walk, mother dear,” answered the child, “but I’se so tired.”
The tears sprang into the mother’s eyes as she heard this plaintive wail.
“Never mind, sweety, there is grandpa’s home, and he will let us come in, and you shall see him.”
The great mansion loomed up mysteriously before them, and the woman shuddered as she looked, for she wondered if the hard-hearted old man would turn his own child from his door again starving.
She slowly crawled up the steps and rang the bell. A strange butler answered and partly closed the door when he saw the rags.
“I want to see Mr. Benson,” faltered Annie.