"I hope I haven't kept you waiting long ?" "Not very long," answered Ben, shaking her hand.
"This is my cousin Mrs.Hill, who relieves me of part of my housekeeping care," continued Mrs.Hamilton, "and this is her son, Conrad.

Conrad, this is a companion for you, Benjamin Barclay, who will be a new member of our small family." "I hope you are well, Conrad," said Ben, with a smile, to the boy who but a short time before was going for a policeman to put him under arrest.
"I'm all right," said Conrad ungraciously.
"Really, Cousin Hamilton, this is a surprise" said Mrs.Hill.

"You are quite kind to provide Conrad with a companion, but I don't think he felt the need of any, except his mother--and you." Mrs.Hamilton laughed.

She saw that neither Mrs.Hill nor Conrad was glad to see Ben, and this was only what she expected, and, indeed, this was the chief reason why she had omitted to mention Ben's expected arrival.
"You give me too much credit," she said, "if you think I invited this young gentleman here solely as a companion to Conrad.

I shall have some writing and accounts for him to attend to." "I am sure Conrad would have been glad to serve you in that way, Cousin Hamilton," said Mrs.Hill.