He did not seem to hear her, for he continued:
“I have at last decided that I can do this. Perhaps it is my duty; after all, he is no more a Landray than he is a Benson.”
By a gesture Virginia seemed to put aside this idea. The boy had the Landray look.
“He is the image of his father,” she said tenderly.
Benson smiled.
“It has taken me a good while to decide what I can do, Virginia. I hope you have not given your heart wholly to the child.”
Still she did not fully comprehend the drift of what he was saying.
“If you will surrender him to me, I will make myself responsible for his future. I shall, of course, be willing that you should see him.”
“Willing I should see him!” exclaimed Virginia. “Mr. Benson, have you quite taken leave of your senses?”
“I mean that I do not care to share my responsibility with anyone, not even with you, Virginia; for I cannot believe in a divided authority in so serious a matter. The mistakes made in Stephen's case must not be made in his.”