"And so I'd like to buy him, please," Keineth finished, laying her check before him.
For a long time the old man stared at it, while Keineth and Pilot waited.
"He loves you better than he does me! You're right--he wasn't happy here--he's cried and cried! I can't keep even a dog's love! Take him." He slowly lifted the check, read it, turned it over, folded it and put it in his pocket.
Then Keineth felt very sorry for the old man. She felt, too, that now in some way or other he belonged to her, though not exactly related.
"Won't you come home to lunch with me? Then you can meet Peggy and the others and see how glad they are to get Pilot back! They'll be awfully glad to see you, really! Please don't be lonely any more--for--I'll be your friend!"
He had risen slowly to his feet, towering over her. He looked down at the bright face. Keineth slipped her hand into his.
"Oh, please come--it'll be such fun," and she gave his fingers a coaxing, friendly squeeze.
The sour-faced servant muttered, "Well, I never!" under his breath, when he saw his master walk through the door to his waiting car, holding the little girl's hand and listening to her chatter with a smile! It was the strangest sight he had ever beheld in this very strange house!
But it was a stranger sight for the Lees when the big limousine drew up at their curb and Pilot dashed from its door, followed by Keineth and a very, very old man who leaned one hand upon Keineth's shoulder.
"Pilot!" cried Billy, who had seen them through the window.