Jack was still unable to answer, but the doctor's assertion caused the boy to squeeze closer to his father's breast, which movement greatly comforted the old gentleman.
"I think if you'd always let me be with you, father, I would be a real good boy," said Jack. "I like you better than I do anybody—but Matt; yes, better than Matt either."
"Thank you, my boy," said the doctor, with some little coolness which Jack detected.
"I've got to do something," said Jack, "and if I can't see things that's good to do, I have to do others."
The doctor remembered having had some such experience himself, in the days of his own mischief-making, but he answered gravely:
"I have to spend a great deal of time in sickrooms, my boy, where it would be inconvenient for you to be."
"Then let me be with you when you're at home," said Jack, "and," he continued, rather hesitatingly, "let me ask questions, and you try to answer so I can understand you."
The doctor dimly realized that when he was busy he did not answer questions willingly or lucidly, but he replied:
"You ask a great many questions about things which I don't think you should know about, Jack."
"Well," said Jack, "I can't help thinking about them, and when you turn me off, I nearly always ask somebody else and I find out anyhow."