"You'd better let me see him," said Ben, sturdily.

"I should like to know what's going to happen if I don't," said Mrs.
Mudge, with wrathful eyes, and arms akimbo.

"I shall go home and report to my father," said Ben, coolly.

"Who is your father?" asked Mrs. Mudge, for she did not recognize her
visitor.

"My father's name is Newcome--Squire Newcome, some call him."

Now it so happened that Squire Newcome was Chairman of the Overseers of
the Poor, and in that capacity might remove Mr. Mudge from office if he
pleased. Accordingly Mrs. Mudge softened down at once, on learning that
Ben was his son.

"Oh," said she, "I didn't know who it was. I thought it might be some
idle boy from the village who would only take Paul from his work, but if
you have a message from your father----"

This she said to ascertain whether he really had any message or not, but
Ben, who had in fact come without his father's knowledge, only bowed,
and said, in a patronizing manner, "I accept your apology, Mrs. Mudge.
Will you have the goodness to send Paul out?"

"Won't you step in?" asked Mrs. Mudge with unusual politeness.

"No, I believe not."