“But it doesn’t hurt any more.”
“Then that’s all right.”
“Where’s Jack?” he asked at length.
Margaret became very grave.
“I’m afraid we’ve betrayed our trust, Aladdin,” she said. “Because only yesterday he slipped away and left a little note to say that he was going to enlist. We’re very much distressed about it.”
“Perhaps it’s better so,” said Aladdin, “if he really wanted to go. Did he leave any address?”
“None whatever; he simply vanished.”
“Ungrateful little brute!” said Aladdin. Then he bethought him of Peter. “I’ll come back later, Margaret,” he said, “but it behooves me to go and look up the good Mrs. Brackett.”
He hardly knew how he got out of the house. He felt like a criminal who has been let off by the judge.
The sun was now low, and the shadows long and black. Aladdin found Peter where he had left him, balancing on the great stone at the entrance, and sending up clouds of smoke. He rose when he saw Aladdin, and he looked paler and more worn. “Peter,” said Aladdin, “from the bottom of my heart I wish you luck.”