“Bethany, child,” he said, in haste, “little girl, do you want to go home?”
Home! That was the magic word that the child wanted.
“O, yes, sir; yes, sir!” she gasped, and with a hurried farewell to Mrs. Everest the Judge picked up the sorrowful child in his arms and fairly ran downstairs with her.
CHAPTER IX
Another Surprise
The Judge’s ship had sailed into clear waters—his venture of the other day had, so far, proved eminently successful.
It was just one week after his call on Mrs. Everest. On his way home that day with the disturbed Bethany nestling close to him in the sleigh he had said to himself many times, “I don’t know what Titus will say—I don’t know what Titus will say.”
Titus said very little. When his grandfather called him into his study and told him that Bethany seemed to be greatly upset at the thought of leaving them, Titus replied briefly, “T-t-then keep her, sir.”
“But the brother for you—the boy I was going to adopt,” said the Judge.
“I-I-I don’t want a brother, sir,” Titus returned; “never did want one—a-a-am glad to get rid of the thought of one.”
“Then you like this little girl?” said the Judge, anxiously.