“I am his natural guardian, madam.”
“Who made you so, Mr. Ford?”
“I shall not argue that question. It is enough that I claim him as my cousin and ward.”
“Your cousin?”
“Certainly. That doubtless conflicts with what he has told you. He was always a liar.”
“His story is, that you beguiled him from his home in New York, and brought him against his will to this part of the country.”
“And you believe him?” sneered Ford.
“I do.”
“It matters little whether you do or not. He is my sister's child, and is under my charge. I thought fit to place him with Mr. Joel Barton, of Scipio, but the boy, who is flighty, was induced to run away with Barton's son, a lazy, shiftless fellow.”
“Supposing this to be so, Mr. Ford, what is your object in calling?”