Miss Nellie covered her face with her hands. Miss Eva turned away to the window.
"She was dead w'en I got to her," said Bert.
"Be careful!" said Miss Eva sharply. "The child is coming in."
"Freddy wasn't asleep at all," said Mary, opening the door. "He was just playing a game, but he won't tell me——Oh, I beg your pardon! I didn't know any one was here."
Freddy had stopped round-eyed, open-mouthed with incredulous delight.
"Bert!" he gasped. "The son of a gun!"
"Freddy!" cried the Misses Blair.
But Bert held out his arms and Freddy ran into them.
"Gee, Bert, I'm glad to see ya!" rejoiced Freddy.
"Me, too, kid, glad to see you! How's the boy, huh? Gettin' educated, huh? Swell school, ain't it?" babbled Bert, fighting for time.