"Don't you know me, father?" cried Raleigh, almost unable to utter a word. "It's your poor Susan's husband, and Dolly's father."
"Dolly's father!" repeated old Oliver, rising from his chair, and resting his hand upon Raleigh's shoulder. "Do you know that the dear Lord has taken her to be where he is in glory?"
"Yes, I know it," he said, with a sob.
He put the old man back in his seat, and drew a chair close up to him.
They sat thus together in sorrowful silence for some minutes, until old
Oliver laid his hand upon the empty sleeve on Raleigh's breast.
"You've lost your arm," he said, pityingly.
"Ay!" answered Raleigh; "our colonel was set upon by a tiger in the jungle, and I saved him; but the brute tore my arm, and craunched the bone between his teeth till it had to come off. It's spoiled me for a soldier."
"Yes, yes, poor fellow," answered old Oliver, "but the Lord knew all about it."
"That he did," answered Raleigh; "and he's taught me a bit more about himself than I used to know. I'm not spoiled to be His soldier. But I don't know much about the service yet, and I shall want you to teach me, father. You'll let me call you father, for poor Susan's sake, won't you?"
"To be sure—to be sure," said old Oliver, keeping his hand still upon the empty sleeve on Raleigh's breast.
"Well, father," he continued, "as I am not fit for a soldier, and as the colonel was hurt too, we're all come home together. Only Susan's gone straight on with her lady and our little girl, and sent me through London to see after you and Dolly."