"Let me go to meet him!" Granfer cried excitedly.
"No, father, not yet! There is more to tell! David has been living near us some time, but he never came to see us because he was afraid you were angry and bitter against him still; and father, he has a child of his own whom you already dearly love! Oh, cannot you guess who our David is?"
The old man shook his head, and looked around him in painful bewilderment. Suddenly Nellie gave a little cry of glad surprise.
"Oh, I know, I know!" she cried excitedly. "Uncle David is Mr. Manners, and Una is our cousin!"
"Yes," Mrs. Maple replied, "you have guessed rightly, Nellie." And turning again to Mr. Norris she said: "Una is your own grandchild, father; do you understand now?"
Granfer made no response in words, but his full heart arose in a prayer of thanksgiving to God. There was a brief silence, then the farmer beckoned to the children to follow him, and together the three left the kitchen, while Mrs. Maple hurried to the door and spoke to some one who was waiting without.
"I have told him, David," she said softly. "You can come in and see him now!"
Granfer turned his head quickly, and peered at the tall form that came to his side with outstretched hands that sought his own.
"Father, forgive me!"
It was his son David's voice, and the old man trembled exceedingly, whilst his quivering lips murmured the two words: "My son!"