“That’s my business.  Permit me to say that it is no affair of yours.”

“I judge differently.  The boy is sick and under my charge.”

“I am his natural guardian, madam.”

“Who made you so, Mr. Ford?”

“I shall not argue that question.  It is enough that I claim him as my cousin and ward.”

“Your cousin?”

“Certainly.  That doubtless conflicts with what he has told you.  He was always a liar.”

“His story is, that you beguiled him from his home in New York, and brought him against his will to this part of the country.”

“And you believe him?” sneered Ford.

“I do.”

“It matters little whether you do or not.  He is my sister’s child, and is under my charge.  I thought fit to place him with Mr. Joel Barton, of Scipio, but the boy, who is flighty, was induced to run away with Barton’s son, a lazy, shiftless fellow.”

“Supposing this to be so, Mr. Ford, what is your object in calling?”

“To reclaim him.  It does not suit me to leave him here.”

Ford’s manner was so imperative that Miss Stone became alarmed.

“The boy is not fit to travel,” she said.  “Wait till my brother comes, and he will decide, being a physician, whether it is safe to have him go.”

“Madam, this subterfuge will not avail,” said Ford, rudely.  “I will not wait till your brother comes.  I prefer to take the matter into my own hands.”

He pressed forward to the door of the room, and before Miss Stone could prevent it, was on his way upstairs.  She followed as rapidly as she could, but before she could reach him, Ford had dashed into the room where Herbert lay on the bed.

Herbert was stricken with terror when he saw the face of his enemy.

“I see you know me,” said Ford, with an evil smile.  “Get up at once, and prepare to go with me.”

“Leave me here, Mr. Ford.  I can’t go with you; Indeed, I can’t,” said Herbert.

“We’ll see about that,” said Ford.  “I give you five minutes to rise and put on your clothes.  If you don’t obey me, I will flog you.”

Looking into his cruel face, Herbert felt that he had no other resource.  Trembling, he slipped out of bed, and began to draw on his clothes.  He felt helpless, but help was nearer than he dreamed.

“Mr. Ford, I protest against this high-handed proceeding,” exclaimed Miss Stone, indignantly, as she appeared at the door of the chamber.  “What right have you to go over my house without permission?”

“If it comes to that,” sneered Ford, “what right have you to keep my ward from me?”

“I am not his ward,” said Herbert, quickly.

“The boy is a liar,” exclaimed Ford, harshly.

“Get back into the bed, Herbert,” said Miss Stone.  “This man shall not take you away.”

“Perhaps you will tell me how you are going to help it,” retorted Ford, with an evil smile.