“Dad and Mr Barrington! Three cheers!” And he began capering gleefully about the room, evidently transported with joy.
“What are the cheers to be for?” inquired Barrington, rather mystified by this extraordinary conduct.
“Mr Easton came with Freddie to see Mrs Easton, and she’s gone home again with them,” replied Freddie, “and—she’s given the baby to us for a Christmas box!”
Barrington was already familiar with the fact of Easton’s separation from his wife, and Owen now told him the Story of their reconciliation.
Barrington took his leave shortly afterwards. His train left at eight; it was already nearly half past seven, and he said he had a letter to write. Nora brought the baby in to show him before he went, and then she helped Frankie to put on his overcoat, for Barrington had requested that the boy might be permitted to go a little way with him.
There was a stationer’s shop at the end of the street. He went in here and bought a sheet of notepaper and an envelope, and, having borrowed the pen and ink, wrote a letter which he enclosed in the envelope with the two other pieces that he took out of his pocketbook. Having addressed the letter he came out of the shop; Frankie was waiting for him outside. He gave the letter to the boy.
“I want you to take this straight home and give it to your dad. I don’t want you to stop to play or even to speak to anyone till you get home.”
“All right,” replied Frankie. “I won’t stop running all the way.”
Barrington hesitated and looked at his watch. “I think I have time to go back with you as far as your front door,” he said, “then I shall be quite sure you haven’t lost it.”
They accordingly retraced their steps and in a few minutes reached the entrance to the house. Barrington opened the door and stood for a moment in the hall watching Frankie ascend the stairs.