She clung to his hand, weeping and sighing, and shivering silently at old Dinah's muttered invectives against Mr. Chesleigh.
Hugh Glenalvan spoke no words to his granddaughter until he had led her into the house.
Then he sank into his chair, and his gray head drooped upon his breast.
Surprise and sorrow seemed to have deprived him of the power of speech.
Golden knelt at his feet and laid her golden head upon his knee.
"Grandpa, speak to me," she wailed. "Do not be angry with your little Golden! Oh, grandpa, you have been so hard and strict with me; you have kept me too secluded. If you had let me have freedom and happiness like other girls, this never would have happened!"
"Hush, little missie; you must not speak to ole massa like dat," cried Dinah, trying to pull her away. "You don't know what you talkin' 'bout. Come away till ole massa is well enough to talk to you 'bout dis fing."
She lifted the girl and would have led her away, but the old man waved his hand feebly to detain her, and so she placed her in a chair instead.
Then she brought a glass of wine and poured a little between the white, writhing lips of her old master.
"Grandpa, speak to me!" wailed Golden again.