“I’ll warrant you do, father!” and Richard bounded away, taking the path he had so often trod in his boyhood. Larry stood and looked after him a moment. He was pleased to hear how readily the word, father, fell from the young man’s lips. Yes, Richard was facile and ready. He was his own son.
CHAPTER XL
THE SAME BOY
Mary Ballard stepped down from the open porch where Amalia and the rest of the family sat behind a screen of vines, interestedly talking, and walked along the path between the rose bushes that led to the gate. She knew Richard must be coming when she saw Betty, who sat where she could glance now and then down the road, drop her sewing and hurry away through the house and off toward the spring. As Larry knew the heart of a man, so Mary Ballard knew the heart of a girl. She said nothing, but quietly strolled along and waited with her hand on the gate.
“I wanted to be the first to open the gate to you, Richard,” she said, as he approached her with extended arms. Silently he drew her to him and kissed her. She held him off a moment and gazed into his eyes.
“Yes, I’m the same boy. I think that was what you said to me when I entered the army––that I should come back to you the same boy? I’ve always had it in mind. I’m the same boy.”
“I believe you, Richard. They are all out on the front porch, and Bertrand is with them––if you wish to see him––first––and if you wish to see Betty, take the path at the side, around the house to the spring below the garden.”