She sat for a long time in the same attitude, and when, presently, she raised her head and spoke, he saw with contrition that her lips were quivering; she even stretched one hand toward him for a moment, as though to ask his pardon.
"You're a good man," she said, in a curiously altered voice. "And I am--well, I'm a wicked old fool. I've been treating this child like a toy, holding him before all my friends, that they might see what a beautiful thing I had managed to secure. Friends, indeed!" she cried, fiercely, getting up and beginning to pace about, "there isn't one of them I care a brass farthing for; there isn't one of them I wouldn't show the door to-morrow. Oh, you're right; you're very right, and I'm a monster. I've been given this glorious thing from God, and I don't even know how to take care of it. Captain, I'm sorry to think, from what I know of the world, that there are very few men who would have been brave enough to say what you have said to-night. But there's a Providence in your coming--a Providence that set the boy longing to see you. I--I am more glad than I can say that you came here. I've been blind--blind in two senses--but I'll end it. By the Lord! I'll make this boy what you say he should be; he sha'n't minister to my whims any longer." She began to laugh, and shook her head at him whimsically. "Oh, I like you; it's refreshing to meet a man like you occasionally--you're precious rare. By George! you did more for the boy than I did, and knew more about him--upon my word you did. Oh, I'll be good to him, I'll be proud of him. I want--I want to think about all this; and then I'll talk to you about what's best to be done for him. Give me your hand. Will you promise to stay here a week at least--now, I'll take no denial--a week at least? It'll make the boy happy, and it'll do him good, and it'll take him away from me, which'll do him good too."
"Then I won't stay," said the captain, with a smile.
"Very well then," she exclaimed, "we'll do what we can with him together. Oh, you needn't be afraid; I haven't spoiled him yet. But you've got to advise me what to do. It's evident, although it hurts me to say it, that I'm no good at the game."
So the captain remained in town for a week, while Comethup's fate was decided. Long discussions were held late at night, after he had gone to bed, between Miss Carlaw and his earlier friend. During the day the boy, blissfully unconscious of any change being contemplated, drove about with the captain and his aunt to every conceivable quarter of London, in the frantic desire to give the captain what he called "a good time." It often happened that they drifted, quite naturally, toward one of the large barracks, or down to the Horse Guards, where the captain cocked his head knowingly and became at once, in the eyes of his admiring young friend, an expert; indeed, the mere passing of a soldier in the streets stiffened the little old gentleman's figure and gave a sternness to his eyes, which showed, Comethup thought, that he ought really to have been a very great and very wonderful general indeed.