“Oh, Sissie!” said Geoff, reprovingly. “You should not talk about Mr. Knight to Mr. Arthur, now, you know.”
“Yes, she should,” said Arthur. “Are you sorry for me, Sissie?”
“Yes, I am very sorry. Were you a good boy to your father, Mr. Arthur?”
“Not always, Sissie; and I am sorry for it now. You will always be good to your father and mother, won’t you?”
“I don’t know. Mother says I’m very bad. Did you ever have a mother?”
“Yes; but that was a long, long time ago. She died when I was such a little boy that I cannot even remember her.”
“But what will you do now, when you have not either a father or a mother?”
“I don’t know, Sissie. I shall be very lonely. I think you must come and see me.”
“I’m much obliged to you. Thanks very much.”
This was said in such a droll way that Dallington laughed.