"Oh, yes! I thought he was rather stern at first, but he isn't a bit now! You remember all I told you about his son who was lost, don't you, father?"
"Yes."
"Nellie says he went away to be an artist like you, and no one ever heard of him again! That's why Granfer was angry with him! Granfer wanted him to be a farmer, but he couldn't, because of his talent!"
"His talent?" Mr. Manners repeated in questioning tones.
"Yes, his talent for painting, you know. Nellie says it wouldn't have been right for him not to have been an artist."
"What do the people at the farm think has become of him?"
"Mrs. Maple thinks he may be living still, and Nellie and Bessie keep on hoping he will come home. They never saw him, because he went away before they were born, but their mother has told them all about him. Granfer thinks he must be dead."
"Perhaps he hopes he is, if he was such a trouble to the old man."
"Oh, no, indeed, father! He would dearly love to see his son; he told me so himself! He says that he prays to God to let him live to see his boy again! Of course he isn't a boy now! Mrs. Maple says he may be a married man, and have little children of his own. I should like to run down to Lowercoombe Farm this morning, and give the book-marker to Granfer. May I go, father?"
"Certainly you may, my dear; but tell Nanny where you are going."