"Brave fathers for ever!" Then Ronald went
away.
Mrs. Anderson took his hand and led him back to the house. She did not
scold him for going out with Connie. She did not mean to reproach him at
all; he had made a great victory; she felt proud of him. When supper had
come to an end she called the boy to her:
"Ronald dear, I wish to say something. If you were a coward to-day, so
was I."
"You--my aunt?" said Ronald. "Oh no--no!"
"Yes. I didn't want to part with you."
Ronald shivered.
"Won't you ever see me any more?"
"I hope so. Mr. Harvey was very kind."
"Is his name Harvey--same as mine?"
"Yes, darling; he is your father's uncle, and your father lived with him
in his old place in Somersetshire when he was a boy. He loved your
father. He'll tell you lots of stories about him."
"About when does he expect father home?" asked Ronald.
"He doesn't know. Perhaps, Ronald--perhaps--never."
But here Ronald gave himself a little shake.
"I know father's coming back," he said--"feel it in my bones."
There was silence then between the woman and the boy. After a long time
Ronald spoke:
"He made mother cry, all the same."
"He told me about that. He wasn't really unkind to her. I, on the whole,
like him, Ronald, and I think you can do a lot for him--I think your
father would wish it."
"Would he?" said Ronald, his eyes sparkling.
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