But Gerald stoutly refused. "Let nurse tell him, or Miss Burnard," said he.
"No, Gerry," replied Dina. "Nurse might let slip some word about that dreadful night; and Miss Burnard—though she's a dear—isn't one of the family."
"Then there's only you to do it, Twinnie, for I won't."
"I'm afraid I'll be the wrong twin again," said the child sadly; "but someone must tell dad, and if no one else can, I suppose I'll have to. Dad can't like me much less than he does now. That's one comfort!"
The next morning an unlooked-for chance occurred for the carrying out of the little girl's purpose. Miss Burnard had a bad headache, and asked Dina to read a chapter out of the Bible to Mr. Ellis, as she (Miss Burnard) had done ever since the beginning of his illness. And the child chose to read the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
[CHAPTER IX.]
THE APPEAL.
THE story of the Prodigal Son had always touched her, and the childish voice trembled as she read of the young man's repentance and resolve to return and confess his sin to his father. A picture arose before her of a weary wayfarer, toiling homeward, grief, pain, suffering in every line of his face; but that face was the face of Brother Bob.
"When he was yet a great way off," the child read, "his father saw him and had compassion."
Ah! What a father that was! But would dad act like this? And a passionate prayer went up from the little burdened heart: