“Yes,” he recollected, “there's to be a vestry meeting, and I have to light up. But I'm tired of the church work.”
“Tired of the church work!” gasped the child. “Yes,” he said. And then to the amazed and terrified family, he told the story of his day's experiences.
Sophie listened, thrilling with excitement. “And you went to see Mr. Wygant!” she cried in awe. “Oh, Samuel, how brave of you!”
“He ordered me out of his house,” said the boy bitterly. “And Dr. Vince has gone back on me—I have no one at all to help.”
Sophie came to him and flung her arms about him. “You have us, Samuel!” she exclaimed. “We will stand by you—won't we mother?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Stedman—“but what can poor people like us do?”
“And then you have Miss Gladys!” cried Sophie after a moment.
“Miss Gladys!” he echoed. “Will she take my part against her own father?”
“She told you that she loved you, Samuel,” said the child. “And she knows that you are in the right.”
“I will have to go and see her,” said Samuel after a little. “I promised that I would come and tell what happened.”