t me. I've been as fond of you as if
you'd been my own child. It's put me terrible about, losing you so
sudden. Why, I meant to stay with you till you went to school.'

Bobby began to get tearful at once. He had a tender little heart, and
to see Nurse cry was a great calamity. He was honestly sorry to part
with her; but his father filled his heart, and, childlike, the new
scenes and life around him were entirely engrossing him.

When Nurse had gone he was called to his father, who was sitting with
his stepmother. True was still playing in the garden.

'I feel I must make acquaintance with my small son,' Mr. Allonby said,
perching him on his knee.

'How is it you have thought such a lot about me?'

'I always knewed you would be nice,' said Bobby, with a slow shake of
his head. 'I knewed fathers were.'

'How many fathers have you known?'

'Only God,' said Bobby, simply and reverently. 'He is my other Father,
isn't He? And He's always good and kind to me.'

Mr. Allonby exchanged glances with his wife.

'You are a little character, I see. Tell me more. Are you a very good
little boy?'

'Nurse says no boys are ever good,' said Bobby, not seeing the twinkle
in his father's eye. 'I s'pose when I get to be a father I shall be.'

Mr. Allonby began to laugh. His wife shook her head at him.

Bobby knitted his brows, then turned questioner.

'Did you fink I would be like what I am, father?'

His tone was anxious. He added hurriedly:

'I'm not a baby now, I can walk miles and miles, and I'm going to dress
myself all alone to-morrow.'

'That's right. I want my son to be plucky and independent and
honourable. If you're that sort I shall be quite satisfied. What do
you say, Helen?'

Mrs. Allonby looked at Bobby rather tenderly.

'I don't think he needs to be very independent yet,' she said.

'What does it mean?' asked Bobby. 'And what does honourable mean?
It's plucky when you hurt yourself and don't cry, isn't it?'

'Independent is doing things for yourself and standing alone.
Honourable is everything a gentleman ought to be--truthful, honest, and
straight, with right thoughts about everything. I think you're plucky.
You're not afraid of anything, I hope.'

Bobby did not answer for a minute. He had heard enough to fill his
small brain with fresh thought.

'I'm not afraid of anybody if I have Nobbles with me,' he said.

His father laughed again, then put him off his knee.

'I have lette