But surely, surely Uncle Ross would care! The lonely old man, surrounded by riches and comforts, must be longing all the while for the brotherly love he had cast away, and repeatedly refused to welcome back again!
Catherine's warm heart glowed with affection for all who were good to her, but more especially for those to whom she felt drawn by the tie of sympathy; and she could not believe that a brother could possibly continue to refuse to clasp a brother's hand, nor that any one could long withstand the gentle fascination of Uncle Jack's sincerity.
The more she prayed and meditated, the more hopeful did she become. She even found herself smiling over the contemplation of a dream-picture—the possible result of the efforts she was planning—of the brothers meeting once again as friends, not foes, and trying to outdo one another in their expressions of sorrow for the years of misunderstanding.
'Uncle Ross is generous at heart, I feel sure he is!' she thought. 'It is only, as Uncle Jack told me, that he has allowed his business career to spoil his outward character—he has grown too fond of money—hard, calculating, and cynical. But, in spite of his wealth, he is unhappy and lonely—he has come to regard his life as a failure. He will welcome the friendship and unmercenary devotion of the brother who has never ceased to sorrow for the loss of his regard!'
Before going downstairs to breakfast Catherine woke and dressed the children and listened to their prayers.
They clung round her and begged for a 'talk,' and this too she gave them—a quaint little morning homily—dealing with the probable events of the day, containing a promise to have a real, long game of play with them in the evening, to make up for leaving them with Agatha until dinner-time.
'You will be dear, good little people, will you not, so that I may go to see Uncle Ross quite happily, without worrying about having left you at home?'
Ted laughed wickedly, but was instantly rebuked by Toddie.
'Naughty boy not to pwomise at once! I'll be good, Carr dear, but I can't keep Ted fwom bein' bad.'
'Ted will not break his word to me, I am certain of that,' said Catherine, gravely regarding the mischievous-looking urchin.