“I’m not ill,” he said.
“No; but Dr. Lighton has his own ideas about you. I cannot take you with me this afternoon.”
Bertie never disputed the Squire’s final verdict; he accepted it as an oracle. But he looked a little disappointed, and sat very still, with his eyes upon his plate. Suddenly a bright thought seemed to strike him, and he looked up eagerly.
“Well?” asked the Squire, seeing that a request was trembling on the child’s lips.
“May I come to the church in time to walk home with you afterwards?”
Again Bertie fancied that there was a pause of hesitation before the answer came.
“Do you wish it very much?”
“Yes, please.”
“Very well. I shall be out of church by soon after four; but I am often detained a little. You may meet me by the gate of the path through the wood at twenty minutes past four. Wait for me there if I do not come at once, and we will take a walk together then.”
Bertie’s face flushed with pleasure.