Probable Sons

ce, and sent a message to the nursery to tell her to come down to him. She arrived very surprised at the summons, as Sir Edw

e's a letter from Jack for me, isn't the

g from the writing on the env

fairly trembled with excitement as she opene

p his promise. I kne

order dr

ght, little woman, and we were wrong.

lease,

r read as

my word, little

you lent me wi

oan, as I reache

hed a drop of d

ork at my uncle'

e, and am gettin

again. And my u

et preacher, an

like I was, and

ommy Maxwell, a

m. Tell the wom

hat I'll hold up

ght I asks God to

ng on the right

for your talk, wh

e

obedi

K GR

n silence when he had finished re

ore, uncle, but I don't quite understan

to nurse, but sitting wrapped in thought himself and leaving bot

a young horse, and returning home met a traction engin

and he was thrown violently to the ground. He had no groom with him, and the accident took place on a lonely road, so that it was not till an hour later that help came, in the shape

ng recovered consciousness shook his head vehemently when it was suggested; and so it ended in Milly's nurse volunteering to assist his valet in nursing him. Poor little Milly wandered about the house with Fritz at her heels in a very woe-begone fashion.

go in and see him, but this was not allowed. At last permission was given by the doctor for a very short visit, and the child stole i

looked at her uncle's bandaged head

in hers, and then she said, her brow

rd, for so long. I wish you would l

iled, then sh

live again; now isn't He? I wasn't quite sure whether you mightn't like to die best, but I didn't want you to. Nurse says I mustn't stay a m

rown paper, and then lifted on to the bed with difficul

he distance coming to meet him; and can you see the words underneath?-'I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, a

he picture in the place she wished; and Sir Edwa

e muttered, "Has she a purpose in bringing that everlasting subject before me

pon it, and later in the day, when nurse asked him if he wou

came back with a startling vividness. The wasted years, the misused talents, and above all, the fast-closed heart against its rightful Owner, now seemed to stand up

hina on the old-fashioned dresser was touched with a ruddy glow. Mrs. Maxwell herself, seated in a wooden rocking-chair, in spotless white apron, was knitting busily as she talke

er, Mrs. Maxwell?

have a right to grumble and go rushing off to them foreign parts, a-leaving their own country and the weather God gives them, because th

still. I was very sad this morning. After I had talked to them, I went down to the plantation at the bottom of the lawn, and on the way I came to a poor dead frog. Fritz sniffed at him, but he didn't seem to be sorry. I don't know how he died. I thought perhaps he had stayed out in the cold and got frozen, he felt so very cold. I took him up and buried him, and I wondered if his mother would miss him; and then I went on a little farther, and there were some li

n, he said the other day that the fir

him tight. I told him God would take care of him, and give him a beautiful new green dress next summer; but he seemed to feel the cold, and I expect

loved to hear her childish fancies and never laughed at

, dear. Is your uncl

t talk, and nurse won't let me see him. I th

oments. Milly stroked her cat

ould have happened to me? Should

ure as you'll be mistress of the property one day. Sir Edward he have no other kith or ki

always wishing for one. I never remember my father. My mother I do, but she was always ill, and she didn't like me to bother her. Do you know, I thought when I came to Uncle Edward that he would be a kind of fat

one is smelling as if it wants to come out," was Mrs. Maxwell's brisk r

ed that the light-hearted child with the merry laugh, now dancing around the room, and climbing up to the dresser for a plate, w

e asked presently, busy with her fork and spoon, and l

s from the forge, I always had a hot pudding for him. He

, Mrs. Maxwell? I get so tired of waiti

is only yesterday as he went off. I feel at times like fretting sadly over him, and wish I knew if he was alive or dead

ng God about him last night at my window on the stairs-and it seemed as if God sai

ge at this moment, and Milly

g back. Nurse said I was to be in at fo

do you know it has struck four ten minutes ago? When you and my old woman get together to h

y covered up in a thic

ouse by yourself. Your uncle will soon be well, and nurse will be better able to see af

lly; "I promised her I wouldn't. Sarah stays in the nursery with me

and was striding along at a great pace, when passing a rather dark c

me see you in here again, and it will

" cried Milly

e after the rabbits. If I hadn't a-had you to look a

uldn't have

ught him a lesson

t be-Tommy coming home! You couldn't see who it was, co

ne. "My own son wouldn't skulk along like that.

s ragged. He might have been so

now the chap. He's staying at the Blue Dragon, a

s prodigal sons," said Mil

hen he set her down in the brightly-

I should know him fast enough. He

hat night added another

from Maxwell is a prodigal son, bring him