"No, my dear. I prefer to be here. Besides, do you remember a little girl who gave up having her [117]Thanksgiving at home that she might share a lonely dinner with her old uncle? If you have forgotten, I have not."
"Oh, but," returned Edna, quite embarrassed, for the little girl was none other than herself, "you see you were quite well, and didn't have a headache." Just what this had to do with it was rather puzzling and Uncle Justus smiled at the attempted argument.
Then they fell into talking about various things, and in the course of the conversation Edna told of her adventure in the fog, of how scared she had been, and how fearful lest Louis were drowned. Uncle Justus listened attentively, and asked such adroit questions that though Edna tried to shield Louis, she knew that Uncle Justus was aware of everything that had happened. He was Louis's Uncle Justus as well as Edna's.
When the story was ended Uncle Justus was silent for a time, but he stroked Edna's hair thoughtfully. At last he said half to himself, "I shall have to have a talk with the boy's mother. He will be ruined if something is not done." And then Emma came in to know if Mr. Horner would have tea, and then since he declined this, she asked if he would dine with Miss Edna.
"Oh, you will, Uncle Justus, won't you," begged Edna.
"I will if you would like me to," he said simply.
So Edna sat up straight and said, "He will stay, Emma, but you must give him more than I am to [118]have, for Mrs. Ramsey said I'd better not eat anything very hearty."
"You were to have some broth and toast, Miss Edna," Emma told her, "and if you wanted more before bedtime I was to give you some hot milk."
"But they will be back by bedtime, Emma, I am sure."
"Very well, miss. I will see that the gentleman has something proper."