"We are all trying to live by those rules, Peter," she said; "and I hope, by God's grace, you will do so, too; then, I am sure, neither Bagot nor I will have any fault to find with you."
As I was leaving the room, the little boy called me back.
"Peter," he said, "stop a minute, Peter! Dear mother, may Peter take me out to-morrow?"
"Will you be very careful? Can I trust you, Peter?" asked my mistress. "My little boy is very delicate, and needs the greatest care."
"Yes, ma'am," I said; "indeed you may trust me."
"Then be ready at eleven o'clock, in your tidiest clothes, to take Master Reggie out."
"Peter," said the child, "I'll take you to see my children. You didn't know I had any children, did you, Peter? I have sixty-nine children; isn't that a great many? I used to have seventy, but one of them died. Would you like to see my children, Peter?"
"Yes, thank you, Master Reggie," I said, "very much indeed."
"Good-night, Peter," he said.
But before I had shut the door, I heard him say to his mother, "Isn't Peter a nice boy, mother? I like him very much, though he didn't walk on the sea."