“You’ll have dinner with us, father?” cried Phil.
“No, my boy; I must be off at once.”
“Oh, father, take me with you,” cried Phil, piteously.
“I cannot, my boy. I must get back to my regiment, and at once.”
“So soon?” said the old Doctor, sadly.
“Yes, so soon. If it got about that I was here I should be seized and shot for a spy.”
“Father!” cried Phil, clinging to him.
“But I am not going to be caught, nor shot neither, my boy,” cried the Captain, raising him on a chair so that they stood face to face.
“And you’ll take me with you, father?”
“Impossible, boy. Come, be a man. You shall join me soon, but I cannot take you with me. Dr Martin will bring you.”