He did not know they were coming until they had come, and he suddenly met Queenie in the park, face to face, as she was running up to see him and tell him all the news.
He was so surprised that he only stood quite still, staring hard at her, and exclaimed, “Queenie!” in a very astonished voice.
“Bertie!” she answered, mimicking him, and then she began to laugh in her old merry way.
“Why, Bertie, how astonished you look! Didn’t I say we should be home in the spring? Aren’t you pleased to see me back?”
“Yes, very pleased,” answered Bertie, recovering himself. “Are the boys here yet?”
“Not yet. They will be back at Easter. Papa and mamma and I have come home now. Bertie, is it true that the Squire has adopted you properly?”
“I am his little boy now,” answered the child, simply. “He says so.”
“And do you like it?”
“Yes, very much.”
“You like him?”