Page:Tom Beauling (1901).pdf/56

 I am glad you don't want me to have the child. I only offered to take him because I thought it was my duty to."

Judge Tyler shifted uneasily.

"I suppose you are going to keep him, then," she said.

"I!" exclaimed the judge. "Certainly not."

"Too absurd!" put in the doctor, under his breath.

"Oh, no!" said the judge, "I sha'n't keep him."

"Then what are you going to do with him?" said Dorothy.

Judge Tyler cleared his throat, and, in the tone of one describing the landscape:

"I have the address of a home for orphans in New York, where I am told that children are well looked after by kindly people. I have quite made up my mind that unless something better offers—"

"Then you're not going to adopt him?" said Dorothy, as if the fact continued to surprise.

"Why should I?" said the judge—"Why should I?"