CHAPTER XIX.
A Happy Walk
rafford looked up from his books as his nephew entered, and greeted him with a smile. Noll thought this welcome portended good, and remembered, with a grateful thrill in his heart, that Uncle Richard had fallen into the habit of greeting him thus of late. He went up to the reader's chair, and without waiting for his courage to cool, laid a hand on the reader's arm, saying,—
"Uncle Richard, I've come to ask a great favor of you. Do you think you'll grant it? Can't you guess what it is?"
Trafford did not reply at once, but sat looking steadfastly into his nephew's face, his eyes wearing the dreamy, far-away look which lingered in them much of late, and it was not until Noll had repeated his question that he replied, musingly,—
"I'm sure I cannot think. Perhaps you wish more pocket-money, or—"