Esther stooped and held out her arms to the child, but he hid behind his father.
"His mither died last week, Miss," he said with a choke in his voice. "I'd like tae leave him with ye."
"I'm very sorry," she replied, with quick sympathy. Then she promised to receive Bobbie as a pupil, providing he would stay.
"Oh, he'll stay," the father hastened to say, "if ye'll just call Donald."
So Donald was called, and he succeeded in coaxing Bobbie into the schoolroom.
When the child realized that his father had gone and left him, he ran to the door, crying, "Faither! Faither!" while tears rolled down his cheeks.
Then the mother heart of Esther Bright asserted itself. She gathered him in her arms and soothed him, until he cuddled down contentedly and fell asleep.
Soon after, Kenneth Hastings appeared at the open door, and saw Esther at her desk with the sleeping child in her arms. He heard her speaking in a soft tone to the children as she dismissed them for the morning recess; but Bobbie wakened frightened. At the moment Kenneth entered, Bobbie was carried out of the room by Donald, the other children following.
"I came to see if you could go for a horseback ride this afternoon," said Kenneth. "It's a glorious day."
"Just delighted! Nothing would please me better."