“No, I didn’t,” said Phil. “I never thought of it. But you have heard of that lonely sumach, haven’t you, uncle? Did you see it?”
Mr. Berkeley stopped at the door of Chap’s room, which, like the other bedrooms on that floor, opened on the large central hall.
“Yes, I have heard of it,” he said, “and I am quite sure I have found it. It was not far from my hut, and I did most of my reading in its shade.”
“In its shade!” cried both of the boys together.
“Yes,” said Mr. Berkeley. “The ground under it was smooth and grassy, and, as it stands by itself on a little hill, there was more air out there than in the thick woods about my hut.”
“Then it isn’t poisonous, after all!” cried Chap, who was sitting up in bed.
“No,” said Mr. Berkeley, “I certainly did not find it so.”
“That is a disappointment!” cried Chap.
“What!” exclaimed Phil. “Did you want me to have a dead uncle?”
“No,” replied Chap, “I didn’t mean that; but still—— Oh, you understand! Good-night!”