His
new guardian did not speak until they reached the door of the apartment
house, then he turned and looked the boy in the eye.
"I'm obstinate, Enoch, and quick tempered. No one but Mrs. Seaton
thinks of me as a particularly likable chap. You can do as you please
about liking me, but I want you to like my wife. And if I have any
reason to think you've been anything but courteous to her, I'll break
every bone in your body. You say you don't want sob stuff. You'll get
none of it from me."
Not a muscle of Nucky's face quivered. Mr. Seaton did not wait for a
reply, but led the way into the elevator. It shot up to the top floor
and Nucky followed into the long, dark hall of the apartment.
"Put your hat and coat here," said his guardian, indicating the hat
rack on which he was hanging his own overcoat. "Now follow me." He
led the boy into the living room.
A small woman sat by the window that overlooked the Square. Her brown
hair was just touched with gray. Her small round face was a little
faded, with faint lines around eyes and lips. It was not an
intellectual face, but it was sweet and patient, from the delicate
curve of the lips to the slight downward droop of the eyebrows above
the clear blue eyes.
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