"And that will be some years hence when I'll come back to fetch you, please God."
"Me and Aunt Betty, too," said Jack, with a little catch in his throat, "'cause she'll cry if I leave her."
"Jack, it's bedtime, and you will never go to sleep if you get so excited," said Aunt Betty decidedly, feeling all future plans swamped into nothingness by the greatness of the news Father Jack had come to tell.
"Look here, I'll carry you pig-a-back," said the Captain, dropping on to all fours. "Climb up and hold fast, for the pig feels frisky to-night, and I can't quite tell what may happen." So Jack went off to his cot in Aunt Betty's room in triumph and screams of laughter, but the laughter gave way to tears when bathed and night-gowned he knelt by Aunt Betty's side to say his prayers. The list of people God was asked to bless was quite a long one, including various friends of Jack's in the township, but last of all to-night came his father's name.
"God bless Father Jack, and make Little Jack a good boy and very big, please, dear God, so as he'll soon have father to fetch him home."
And then, with choking sobs, Jack sprang to his feet and into bed.
"Tuck me in tight, Aunt Betty, and don't kiss me, please. I'll tuck my head under the clothes, and don't tell father I'm crying. It's only little boys who cry, he says, and I want to be big, ever so big. I'll grow now, shan't I? Now I've asked God about it."
Aunt Betty's only answer was a reassuring pat on his back as she tucked the bedclothes round him. Truth to tell she was crying a little too.