`` He would be an awful bother , I 've no doubt , and you 've lived alone so long with no one to worry you that you would n't know what to do with him . Boys are always getting into mischief -- my four just keep me on the dead jump . Still , it 's a pity for him , poor little fellow ! No mother or father -- it seems hard . '' Miss Cynthia 's face grew grimmer than ever as she went to the door with her callers and watched them down the garden path . As soon as Mrs. John Joe saw that the door was shut , she unburdened her mind to her daughter . `` Did you ever hear tell of the like ? I thought I knew Cynthia Henderson well , if anybody in Wilmot did , but this beats me . Just think , Kitty -- there she is , no one knows how rich , and not a soul in the world belonging to her , and she wo n't even take in her brother 's child . She must be a hard woman . But it 's just meanness , pure and simple ; she grudges him what he 'd eat and wear . The poor mite does n't look as if he 'd need much . Cynthia did n't used to be like that , but it 's growing on her every day . She 's got hard as rocks . '' That afternoon Miss Cynthia harnessed her fat grey pony into the phaeton herself -- she kept neither man nor maid , but lived in her big , immaculate house in solitary state -- and drove away down the dusty , buttercup-bordered road , leaving Wilbur sitting on the verandah . She returned in an hour 's time and drove into the yard , shutting the gate behind her with a vigorous snap . Wilbur was not in sight and , fearful lest he should be in mischief , she hurriedly tied the pony to the railing and went in search of him . She found him sitting by the well , his chin in his hands ; he was pale and his eyes were red . Miss Cynthia hardened her heart and took him into the house . `` I 've been down to see Mr. Robins this afternoon , Wilbur , '' she said , pretending to brush some invisible dust from the bottom of her nice black cashmere skirt for an excuse to avoid looking at him , `` and he 's agreed to take you on trial .
It 's a real good chance -- better XXXXX you could expect .
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