Probable Sons

ing; would you like us to buy you anything

he newspaper and a large packet of letters in his hand. He stopped and glanced at the little fur-clad figure as she stood there, eager anticipation written on her

pens and blotting paper at the stationer's. I will write down the kind I wan

hed with delight as

deed. I was wanting to buy something my own self, and I've

em coming up the avenue. Milly's face was clouded, and there were traces of tears on her cheeks

hat I have to pull her up, but she has given me such a fright an

mind; I will not detain you now. I

or she poured into Sir Edward's ear, directly

with him, and never a thought of my anxiety-and the way I went rushing up and down the streets-and the policemen-they are perfectly useless to help a person, but can only stare at you and grin. I'm sure I never expected to light eyes on her again, and I lost my purse and my best umbrella; I left them both somewhere, but it was nigh on two hours I spent, and my shopping not near done, and he the greatest looking rascal that one might se

heaving chest, and quick sobs showed that by this time

t the interest he felt in

he said quietly; "but I daresay Miss Millicent will t

rse looked after him in astonishment, and Ford, the

le finger one of these days. I see it a-developin'. It will be a terrible come-down to the master-b

that he should hold her at arm's length as he does, and treat her as if she were a dog or a piece of furniture, without any fe

her purse and umbrella having conside

im, one little hand resting upon his knee and the other holding her t

appened!" her uncle said, feeling moved at seeing hi

gorously to her eyes, and looking

urse hasn't been angry with me like sh

as yet attempted-lifted her upon his knee, and told her to proceed with her story; and Milly, after a final stru

home, and when I thought that, I couldn't think of nothing else, and I forgot all about nurse, and I forgot she told me to stay there, and I ran after him as hard as I could. I caught him up, and he looked very astonished when I asked him was his name Tommy. He said, 'No,' and he laughed at me, and then I asked him was he a probable son, because he

e as she turned them up to her uncle's face, and

d him if he had run away from God, he said yes, he supposed

d, half amused. "Sometimes it is very rich people who run awa

ooked p

happy, uncle. Oh,

haps

was in his place, and he couldn't get any work. I asked him were there no pigs to keep, but he said there weren't any in London, and he was there, and for six months, he told me, he had been 'on the tramp'; that's what he called it. I asked him what that meant, and he said just walking on every day to no place particular. And he said something about going to the bad, which I couldn't quite understand. Then I asked him why he didn't go back to God, and he said he had been a good boy once, when he went to Sunday-scho

el!" muttere

't believe God loved him, and he wouldn't believe that God wanted him back! I told him I should be quite frightened to get away from God, and he-well, he almost didn't seem to care; he said no one care

you?" inquired Sir Edwa

brightening with the interest of her story,

ever love me again. She said it was just a chance she found me, and if she hadn't come along that lane I should have been lost forever! And she was angry most of all because I shook hands with Jack and wished him goo

were naughty to run after a strange man like that, and I quite u

d very ang

ased with disob

n and ask him to

ink you had better go to th

l I have done it. May I? Will

will be quite

en, kneeling down with folded hand

yed nurse and ran away. And please take care of Jack, a

on't cry any more," said Sir E

wistfully as she

k nurse is s

o scold you any more. The loss of you

ack. He wouldn't let me give it to him; he s

lly trotted upstairs to be received with

a thing again. Come and have your tea. I've had a cup already, and feel wonderful bette

r arms; and poor tired little Mil

ove me again. I've told God I'm

to loving you, I shouldn't give over doin