She came nearer and laid
her thin hand upon my shoulder. I recoiled involuntarily.
"Amey" she began in the gentle tones of an eager peace maker, "I have
come to talk to you a little about the subject just mentioned by my
brother."
"Is there anything he left out, pray?" I interrupted incisively.
"No," she answered reproachfully, "but you may not understand our
motives properly?"
"Through no fault of his then," I muttered half savagely, "he was most
explicit, I thought!"
"You are inclined to be unfair to us Amey, and we are trying to do
everything for the best," said my step-mother persuasively.
"That depends on what you mean, by _the best_" I interrupted curtly.
"We mean, the welfare of all concerned," she broke in, "my brother
insists upon my returning with him, and Freddie will, of course,
accompany me. So might you," she added courteously, "but I think it
would not be wise. You would not be happy among my relatives, of that
I am sure. So we think, that leaving you the option of a choice from
among your own numerous friends, is the most discreet policy of all."
"You are very kind," said I, with choking sarcasm, "to have thought of
me at all. You might have given me up with the furniture for
safe-keeping, or locked me securely away here in the house until your
return."
"Don't be so unkind, Amey," my step-mother pleaded amicably, "you
ought to know, that I am concerned in your welfare and will not leave
here, until I see you comfortably lodged.
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