"Poor George!" she whispered tenderly.
"He is so--utterly forlorn, Aunt."
"Dear George!"
"And so very much a man, Aunt!"
"And such a child!" she murmured. "So big and strong and such a
helpless baby! Dear George!"
Here I turned to my writing again, heard the door close softly and,
glancing up, found myself alone. Then, tossing down my pen, I arose
and from a cupboard reached forth a hat and well-filled knapsack which
last I proceeded to buckle to my shoulders; this done, I took a stout
stick from a corner and stood ready for my wanderings. Thus equipped,
I crossed to the window that I might see if the coast was clear, since
I meant to steal away with no chance of tears or sorrowful farewells.
They were standing on the terrace in the gathering dusk; as I looked,
Aunt Julia reached up and, taking his haggard face between her gentle
hands, drew it down lower and lower; and when she spoke, no ear save
his might catch her soft-breathed words.
And then his great arms were fast about her and there broke from him a
sobbing cry of ecstasy.
"O Julia--at last. He was right then--our Jervas was right!"
And so my uncle George learned to weep at last and found within her
loving arms the blessed relief of tears.
CHAPTER XII
HOW I WENT UPON AN EXPEDITION WITH MR. SHRIG
I had been ringing ineffectually at the bell of my chambers for
perhaps five minutes and was about to visit the adjacent mews in quest
of my groom, when a voice spoke my name, and turning about, I beheld
Mr.
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