Dick felt hurt and snubbed. Indignant tears rose to his eyes, and his lips quivered, but he did not cry. Sir Richard watched the boy in silence, secretly admiring his self-command; presently he noticed that Dick, in his turn, was watching him.
"What are you thinking of?" he asked, struck by the thoughtful look which had crept into his grandson's eyes.
"I-I would rather not say!" was the evasive reply.
"Why not?" the old man demanded.
"If I told you, you might not like it. You might be offended. You are so—so touchy!"
Sir Richard laughed, not unkindly. The boy's frankness was not unpleasing to him.
"Come, speak out," he said imperatively, "tell me what weighty thought was making you look so serious."
"I was wondering," said Dick with exceeding gravity, "if you ever say 'Our Father'!"
"Do you mean the Lord's prayer? Certainly, every day of my life. Why?"
"You said just now that you had never forgiven father—for something. Mother says if we don't forgive we can't hope God will forgive us, and it's a mockery to say 'Our Father.' That's what I meant!"