The tears stood in the little girl's eyes, as she turned them sorrowfully up to her father's face, and answered, "yes: he is quite blind, and very ill."
"Poor man!" said Arthur; "how much he is to be pitied! Is he a soldier?"
"He was once a soldier, but he cannot see now," replied the little girl.
"And what is your name?" asked Arthur.
"Flora Glengary?"
"And how came your father to lose his sight?"
As Flora did not immediately reply, the soldier, taking off his cap, said, "my good young gentleman, I was once a soldier, and served with the army in Egypt, but lost my sight by lightning. I then took my little girl, and came back to England, in hopes of being able to beg my way to Dunbar, my native town, in Scotland, where I had friends; but now I can get no farther, for I am very ill, and quite friendless. Before I lost my bagpipes I got on very well; but now they are gone, I believe my child and I must starve."
"And how came you to lose your pipes?" asked Arthur.