"Not nearly so good as he ought to be, my child. He has done wrong in keeping away from his own people all these years, but his father was hard on him and he determined never to return till he was a successful man. He did not think his father would grieve for him; he believed himself still unforgiven, or he would not have stayed away. He forgot that God would soften his father's heart."
"How pleased they all will be at the farm!" Una exclaimed in bright, glad tones, "Mrs. Maple, and Nellie and Bessie, and the farmer! As for Granfer—well, I really cannot think how he will feel when he knows God has answered his prayers at last!"
Una stepped lightly along by her father's side; all traces of her recent disappointment were gone; her heart danced with joy, and her whole countenance shone with pleasure as she thought of the great happiness in store for her friends.
The knowledge of the secret between her father and herself filled the little girl with a sense of importance, and she was delighted to think that her father trusted her.
"I don't know what has come across you, miss," Nanny declared when she was putting Una to bed that evening; "you're in such high spirits that one would think you had heard good news!"
"So I have, Nanny, but I must not tell you what it is, because it's a secret—only father and I know it yet, and one other person, I suppose. By-and-by you and every one in the neighbourhood will know as well."
"Dear me, is it a very wonderful secret, then?"
"Yes, very wonderful; but you must not ask me what it is."
"I don't mean to, dearie."
"It's an answer to prayer, Nanny, I may tell you that much. I feel so happy and thankful to-night that I don't believe I shall be able to sleep a wink!"