Bill—or perhaps I ought to say Julian—looked less anxious.
“Yes,” he said, “but he treated me badly and I ran away.”
“Did you ever hear of a man named Charles Waldo?”
“Yes, he was the man that sent me to Mr. Badger.”
“It’s a clear case!” thought Robert, overjoyed, “I have no doubt now that I have found the hermit’s son. Poor boy, how he must have suffered!”
“Julian,” said he, “do you know why I am traveling—what brought me here? But of course you don’t. I came to find you.”
“To find me? But you said——”
“No, it was not Mr. Badger nor Mr. Waldo that sent me. They are your enemies. The one that sent me is your friend. Julian, how would you like to have a father?”
“My father is dead.”
“Who told you so?”