The children were still lingering in the room listening in round-eyed wonder to the strange and excited colloquy between the two men.
“Ethel, dear child,” said her uncle turning to her, “do not fear to speak out and tell me in the presence of this man how he has beaten and abused you all, particularly your brother.”
“You are going to take us away, uncle?” she asked, with a timid glance at the wrathful countenance of Coote.
“Yes, at once; so that he will never again have an opportunity to ill-use any one of you.”
“He has been very cruel to us, uncle,” Ethel said in reply; “to poor Harry most of all. I’m afraid he would have killed him that last time if the people hadn’t come to the doors and windows and made him stop. Poor Harry could hardly walk for days afterward,” she added with a burst of sobs and tears.
“Yes, uncle, he ’most killed me, and I’ve got some of the marks on me yet,” said Harry, pulling up his coat-sleeve and displaying some marks on his arm. “Guess he would have killed me if folks hadn’t come and stopped him. But I’m going to pay him back well when I’m a big man. I’ll just thrash him till he can’t stand.”
“I think you’ll forget about the smart and be willing to forgive him before that,” returned Mr. Eldon with a half smile, drawing the little fellow to him and smoothing his hair caressingly.
Coote was striding angrily to and fro across the floor, clenching his fists, grinding his teeth, and scowling at the little group as though fairly aching to knock them all down.
Mrs. Coote was not there; she had lingered but a moment in the hall, then, having heard the announcement of Mr. Eldon that he had come to take the children away, had hastened to their room and set to work with much energy and despatch to gather together and pack up all that belonged to them.
“There now, my dears, go and get ready for your journey,” said Mr. Eldon, releasing Harry from his embrace and smiling kindly upon all four. “Gather up all your possessions—at least all that you care to keep. No doubt Mrs. Coote will help you with the work, and as soon as you are ready we will start for the station.” Then noting the look of apprehension on each young face, he said: “Harry and Nannette may as well stay here with me; so many of you would only be in Mrs. Coote’s way, and their hats and coats can be put on here.”