“Papa, have you cut your head?” demanded the little boy, who was strangely familiar and yet unfamiliar, and the next minute he was in their midst and they were all laughing and embracing him at once.
It was some time before they could realize that the pale, delicate Arthur was a sturdy, beautiful boy. His face was tanned to a healthy brown and his eyes were clear and merry.
“Where have you been all this time, Arthur?” demanded his father, lifting him onto a bench and gazing at him with the expression of one who has made a wonderful and happy discovery.
“I’ve been with grandpapa,” answered Arthur. The half-brothers exchanged a long look. “Grandpapa and Marie-Jeanne. We have had such ripping times. We played out of doors every day and I never had to study at all. Marie-Jeanne knows more games than Grandpapa, even. And she can make little cakes. I have been very happy, but Grandpapa said you wanted me and you loved me now——”
The Duke stroked the little boy’s head and looked down.
“I should think he might feel a trifle uncomfortable,” thought Miss Campbell, still a bit skeptical over the Duke’s complete reformation.
“And Grandpapa said that Billie sent word I was to come home and it was all right.”
“Who’s Billie?”
“My best girl,” answered Arthur, running over and leaning against the blushing Billie’s shoulder with entire confidence.
Then she was obliged to explain what she had done. His Grace was much moved. He pressed her hand and said she was a remarkable young woman, and that she had done what the highest paid detectives in the kingdom had been unable to accomplish, and he wished to thank her with all his heart.