Then Justin smiled.
"I wish you good luck. Now, my boy, I must go."
"Oh, Dad!"
The little arms were flung round his neck tightly, and the golden head buried against his shoulder.
"Why do you leave us so much? Why can't you take me with you? Why do you bring this new person here and leave her? If she won't leave us, what shall we do? Oh, Dad, will you never come and live with us prop'ly?"
Anstice slipped away, leaving father and son together. There was no question of their affection for each other, but the little girls seemed supremely indifferent to their father's presence or absence. She heard them as she went into the dining-room to breakfast, calling to Hercules; and there were sounds of great disturbance in the poultry yard.
Yet Anstice felt thankful that her proposition had found favour in their eyes.
Justin made a hurried breakfast. Then the car arrived, and his luggage was taken out. He turned to his wife.
"Well, this is good-bye for about six months. I hope you won't regret the step you've taken."
He held her hand in his for a moment, and Anstice faced him with sweet, resolute eyes.