“And, Jane, call your mother. Where is Carl?”
“I think he came in just a moment ago, father. He has been out walking.”
“Well, well. Well, I’ve got a piece of news—quite a piece of news, I must say.” Still, he seemed in no hurry to part with it, and Jane and Elise were left to exchange inquiring glances behind his back, until Mrs. Lambert and Carl had obeyed the summons of the master of the house.
“And what is this piece of news, Peter?” asked his wife, at length. They all looked up at him, as he stood in front of the fire, drinking his tea.
“Well, I must say I am very much surprised. And yet not so much surprised either. I had an idea that there was something in the boy, and that was one reason I wanted to let him have his own rope for a while—”
“Daddy!” cried Jane, springing up, “is it about Paul?”
Mrs. Lambert looked at her with a little frown and a shake of the head, but Jane did not see these warning signs.
“Why, yes,” said Mr. Lambert, smoothing his beard. “The boy, it seems won a third prize in that competition. I found the letter in the mail that was left at my office—”
“Daddy!” shrieked Jane. “Oh, let me see! It isn’t—it can’t be true—”
“Don’t yell like that, Jane!” admonished Carl.