He stepped toward the colonel again, but there was another reprieve for him, the general riding up; and for the next quarter of an hour the two officers were in earnest converse.
“Yes,” said Fred; “I have chosen a bad time. I’ll go.”
But he did not stir, for at the same moment he felt that the general might be planning with his father that which he sought to prevent.
“I’ll go and speak now they are together,” he said to himself, desperately. “General Hedley likes me, I think, and he could not be very cross.”
“No, I dare not,” he muttered; and he paced to and fro again till the general touched his horse’s flanks, and rode slowly away, Colonel Forrester following him thoughtfully for some distance, till in a fit of desperation Fred hurried to his side.
“Want me, my boy?” said the colonel, gravely.
“Yes, father. I want to ask you something.”
“Yes; go on. I am very much occupied just now.”
Fred looked at him piteously, his words upon his lips, but refusing to be spoken.
“Well, my boy, what is it? Are you in some great trouble?”