“But—will they let me have him back?”
Miss Trevisa pulled at the chintz. “I will trouble you not to crumple this,” she said.
“Aunt! dear aunt! you did not tell Mr. Scantlebray to take Jamie away from me?”
The old lady did not answer, she proceeded to release the material at which she was engaged from under the knees of Judith. The girl, in her vehemence, put her hands to her aunt’s arms, between the elbows and shoulders, and held and pressed them back, and with imploring eyes looked into her hard face.
“Oh, auntie! you never sent Jamie to an asylum?”
“I must beg you to let go my arms,” said Miss Trevisa. “This conduct strikes me as most indecorous toward one of my age and relationship.”
She avoided Judith’s eye, her brow wrinkled, and her lips contracted. The gall in her heart rose and overflowed.
“I am not ashamed of what I have done.”
“Auntie!” with a cry of pain. Then Judith let go the old lady’s arms, and clasped her hands over her eyes.