Then Benny got up, and said in a voice tremulous with emotion, "I must go now, please; but before I go I would like to say that I am the lost boy."
"You!" they all said in chorus.
"Yes. I cannot say more now." And he sat down again, and hid his face in his hands.
"How strange!" said Eva; "but I see it all now. I could not think who you reminded me of; but you have strangely altered."
"Yes, I suppose I have," he said huskily; "and yet, perhaps, not more than you have."
"How thankful pa will be!" she said, not heeding his last remark. "I will write and tell him to-morrow."
"Well," said Mr. Munroe, speaking at length, "if this is not the strangest ending to a story that I ever came across!"
"It's as good as a novel," said Miss Munroe. "I declare it would make a capital tale."
"And your father is satisfied that I am honest now?" said Benny, going towards Eva.
"Yes; but I don't think that he ever really believed you were dishonest."