Mr. McCarthy met us at the stairs.
“I've been reading your three commandments,” said he to my mother. “Are they in the Bible?”
“Yes; but I got them out of the Book of Nature,” said she. “You learn to be truthful by the study of men, for what is a man unless he is himself—the thing he pretends to be? Kindness—I learned that from the earth, where we all reap as we sow, and everything that lives teaches us to be happy. These birds and flowers—see how happy they are! And this boy of mine just returned from the path of error—who could be happier than he is?”
“That's sound,” said the hand-made gentleman. “I'm going to write it down in my book.” He sat down and wrote while she helped him a little in the phrasing of his notes.
“I must devote myself to business,” said Mr. McCarthy, when he had closed the book. “I will visit the leading villages in the county, and return as expeditiously as possible.”
He glanced at me as if to note the effect of this impressive declaration.
“Good luck; and remember here is always a good welcome,” my mother said to him, as he took the road to Heartsdale.