“I think He’s always very good to people when they’re lonely. You see He gave me to the Squire when I had nobody to love, and it was like having a home of my own then, and a father too. And when you had nobody He sent Uncle Fred to you. You are quite happy now, aren’t you, mother dear?”
“Yes, my little boy, I am very happy indeed.”
Bertie got fast hold of her hand and held it very tight. His eyes were fixed very intently on her face.
“Mother,” he said, “you are going to live quite close to the Squire now, aren’t you?”
“Yes, dear; we are living there already, and very soon we shall have the house quite to ourselves.”
“And where shall I live then? here or in Uncle Fred’s house?”
Mrs. Arbuthnot had been expecting this question for some days, and was quite prepared to meet it.
“You will have two homes then, my child. Which do you think you would like to spend most of your time in?”
Bertie’s eyes sought her face with great intentness. He took the hand he held and carried it to his lips.
“Mother dear,” he answered after a short silence, “you have Uncle Fred now, and the Squire has nobody but me. I shall see you every day. It will be almost the same, you know—”