“He can go,” Reuben stated firmly.
“Oh, Reuben, do you think he’s well enough?” gasped Nancy.
“Of course he is. What’s a little fainting spell? He can go. The air will do him good. His grandmother will miss him, and we shall, too, but it will do him good to have a change.”
Just then Tommy, who heard his uncle’s voice and got into his clothes, came weakly out. Tom grabbed him and looked at him.
“Say, young man, you do look peaked,” he said.
Grandmother’s voice was heard from her bedroom.
“Tom Loring, you take that child home with you. When I’m up again you can bring him back. He’s all run down.”
“All right, Grandma,” called back Uncle Tom. He shook the boy lovingly. “Well, little Tommy, I’m going to take you back to Boston with me. Your aunt Annie is there, and there’s a great Christmas tree all trimmed with candles. I suppose you didn’t have a tree?”
“No, sir,” said little Tommy.
“Hung up your stocking, eh?”