“Then your name is Wainright, too,” said the Sergeant; “Flutters Wainright, eh?”
“No, Arthur Wainright's my name. Flutters is a name they gave me in the circus, because I used to be so scared when I first began to have a hand in the tumbling.”
“But look here,” said the Sergeant, in rather gruff, soldier-like fashion, “if you've a father and he's living, why aren't you living with him 'stead of being away over here among strangers? Ye're not a runaway, are ye, Flutters?”
“Yes, I am,” said Flutters, scanning the Sergeant's face closely to watch the effect of his confession. “I had to do it, Sergeant. I was in the way at home. My mother was a colored lady, but she died in India, and then my father took me to England and married a white lady, and there were some white children and I wasn't wanted. They used to say I was such a queer, dark little thing.”
“Blest if I blame you, then!” said the Sergeant, whose heart was touched; “but does your father know you're in good, kind hands. I suppose he cared more for you than the rest of 'em did?”
“Yes,” said Flutters, “and so I felt I ought to let him know, and I thought perhaps if you didn't mind, you'd hunt him up when you get over there, and tell him 'bout me, and how happy I am, and that I send my love.”
“But then he might be sending for you to come back. Have you thought of that, Flutters?”
“Yes, I've thought of it, but it isn't likely, Sergeant. He knows I'm not wanted there; but anyhow, it seems to me I ought to let him know now that I'm so well cared for.”
“That's so,” said the Sergeant, pausing a moment to give the matter due consideration. “I think you're right about it, and I'll hunt your father up just as soon as I can get my furlough and run down to see my relatives in Cheshire.”
“Here's my father's name and address,” said Flutters, taking a slip of paper from his pocket, “and when you write to me just direct 'Flutters,' care of Captain Boniface. I don't want them to know about me up there. I just want them to think of me as an ordinary little darkey, and not above any sort of work.”