“It is a most marvellous story, Ralph,” he said tearing his eyes away from the child’s clear, searching gaze.
“The more marvellous because absolutely true,” returned Bastin.
Then, addressing Viola, and relapsing, of course, into English for her sake, he explained who Tom Hammond was, and that he (Ralph) was going to be associated with him on the same great newspaper.
“Mr. Hammond and you, Viola, must be real good friends,” he added.
“Sure, daddy!” the girl said smilingly; “I like him much already——”
She lifted herself slightly until she rested on her knees, and stretching one hand across the hearthrug to Tom Hammond, she laid the other in her guardian’s, as she went on:
“Mr. Hammond is good! I know, I know, for his eyes shine true.”
A ripple of merry laughter escaped her, as she gazed back into her guardian’s face, and added:
“But you, daddy, are always first.”