The first glance seemed to stupefy the lad. He halted abruptly in the doorway, his hands fell limply at his sides, and he seemed unable to advance or retreat. It only needed a slight movement on the visitor's part to break the tension, when Samuel bounded forward with a great cry, and threw himself into the stranger's arms.
"Luke, Luke, my brother, my Luke, my Luke!"
"Here I am, little fellow. I wanted to surprise you, so I didn't write."
"Oh, Luke, you won't go away again and leave me here, will you? Please, please tell me that you won't!"
"I shan't leave you alone in the city for a day," declared the young man warmly. "I have come up to walk the London Hospital, so I shall be within easy reach hereafter. Your holidays you shall spend with me, and I have already arranged with the master to make you comfortable here at school. Bless you, little fellow, you mustn't quite suffocate me with your hugging, for I want to live and take good care of you. I have waited and worked for this ever since you came to London, and now you're going to have fair weather all round. Come along; I've just begged a holiday for you. What should you like to do?"
"Introduce you to the Crispins."
"Very well. We'll get the Crispins, and go for a ride on the good old river Thames."
"A boat ride! A boat ride! Luke, do you care if I ask Charles Lamb to go with us?"
"Not a bit. This is the day when we are going to do just as we please, you know."