"Oh, what a pity!"
"And all our Christmas money," said Dot softly.
"No matter," returned Charlie. "You can have all of mine. I meant every penny of it for Granny."
"And now I want to hear what you have been doing all these years. I know it was my own act that shut me out of your joys and sorrows; but if you will take me back"—and the voice was choked with tears.
Hal pressed the soft hand.
"You will find Edmund a brother to you all," she went on. "It is my shame, that after my marriage, knowing that I could come any time, I hesitated to take the step."
"It is a poor old house," exclaimed Hal tremulously.
"But holds more love and heroism than many grander mansions," Mr. Darol said in his deep, manly tone. "Florence is right: I should like to be a brother to you all. I honored Charlie before I fancied that I should ever have a dearer claim."
"And I've been a sort of black sheep," returned Charlie frankly. "Hal and Joe are the heroes in this family."