human
Blair, don't you know it's wrong to take what doesn't belong to you?
gpt
I took it,
human
Blair told you to,
gpt
Yes, Blair blurted out,
human
People that take things that don't belong to them go to hell, Mrs. Maitland said;
gpt
You ought to be punished very severely, Blair--and Nannie, too. But I am very busy this morning, so I shall only say --she hesitated; what on earth should she say!
human
Yes'm.
gpt
Well, she said,
human
; it had suddenly occurred to her that apprehension was a good thing;
gpt
she repeated darkly;
human
She watched them with perplexed eyes as they hurried out of the room; just as they reached the door she called:
gpt
Blair!
human
Come here. He came, slowly, his very feet showing his reluctance.
gpt
Blair, she said--in her effort to speak gently her voice grated; she put out her hand as if to draw him to her, but the child shivered and moved aside. Mrs. Maitland looked at him dumbly; then bent toward him, and her hands, hanging between her knees, opened and closed, and even half stretched out as if in inarticulate entreaty. Nannie, in the doorway, sobbing under her breath, watched with frightened, uncomprehending eyes.
human
My son, Sarah Maitland said, with as much mildness as her loud voice could express,
gpt
She smiled, but he would not meet her eyes.
human
Tell me, my boy, why did you run away?
gpt
Don't like it here.
human
Don't like what? Your home?
gpt
Why not?
human
Ugly,
gpt
Ugly! What is ugly?
human
This, he said; then suddenly he lifted his head, gave her a sidewise, shrinking look, and dropped his eyes. The color flew into Mrs. Maitland's face; with an ejaculation of anger, she got on her feet.
gpt
You are a very foolish and very bad little boy, she said;
human
she burst out, suddenly fluent,
gpt
Clear out, now; and be a good boy. When she was alone, she sat at her desk in the dining-room for several minutes without taking up her pen. Her face burned from the slap of the child's words; but below the scorch of anger and mortification her heart was bruised. He did not like her to put her arm about him! She drew a long breath and began to read her letters; but all the while she was thinking of that scene in the parlor the night before: Blair crouching against Mrs. Richie, clinging to her white hand;--voluntarily Sarah Maitland looked at her own hand;
human
I suppose, she said to herself,