“Oh, are you not glad to have me? Does no one want me?”
The pathos of the young voice pierced his heart.
“Yes, I want you. I had no one to care for, no brothers or sisters or——”
“Men have wives and children.” There was a touch of almost regret in her tone, as if she were sorry for him.
“And you are my child. We will go in town to-day and find some one to look after you. And there will be children to play with.”
“Oh, I shall be so glad. Little girls?”
“Yes. I know ever so many.”
“I saw my little brothers in Paris as we came through. They were very pretty—at least their clothes were. And papa’s wife—well, I think the Queen couldn’t have had any finer gown. They were just going to the palace, and papa kissed me farewell. It was very dreary at the old château. And when the wind blew through the great trees it seemed like people crying. Old Pierre used to count his beads.”
What a strange, dreary life the little girl had had! It should all be better now. The child of the woman he had loved!
“If grandfather is rich, as Marie said, why does he live that way?”