“Really,” said Miss Trevisa, with asperity, “you are a most exasperating person. I shall do with the boy what I see fit. You know very well that he is a thief.”
“He never took anything before to-day—never—and you had settled this before you knew about the tobacco!” burst from Judith, in anger and with floods of tears.
“I knew that he has always been troublesome and mischievous, and he must be placed where he can be properly managed by those accustomed to such cases.”
“There is nothing the matter with Jamie.”
“You have humored and spoiled him. If he is such a plague to all who know him, it is because he has been treated injudiciously. He is now with men who are experienced, and able to deal with the like of Jamie.”
“Aunt, he must not be there. I promised my papa to be ever with him, and to look after him.”
“Then it is a pity your father did not set this down in writing. Please to remember that I, and not you, am constituted his guardian, by the terms of the will.”
“Oh, aunt! aunt! let him come back to me!”
“Then let me go to him!”