er him a nuisance. He
poured out a strange medley into his astonished and amused uncle's
ears. Imagination was much mixed up with fact, but the one theme that
was the centre of the child's life was his absent father.

'I know he will come for me one day and take me away with himself! I
finks every night when I'm in bed about it. He'll knock at my door
sudden, and I'll say, "Come in." And then I'll see him!'

He gave a little wriggle of ecstasy as he spoke.

'He'll take me straight away. P'raps a cab will be at the door, or a
motor, and we'll go off to the countries over the sea. Me and Nobbles
lie very quiet and listen for the knock when we're in bed. I finks I
hears it often, but it's been a mistake.'

'But I think I should be frightened to go off with a strange man in the
middle of the night,' said his uncle, making a grimace. 'I would
rather have him arrive in the middle of the day.'

'Well, sometimes I'd like him to. Just let me climb a little bit
higher. Would I knock you down if I took hold of your solder very
gently to help me? I want to show you the straight long road he'll
come along. There!'

He had swung himself upon the bough above, his uncle having been equal
to bear his weight.

And now, with eager face, he pointed out the white dusty high-road that
went like a streak of light between rows of flat green meadows, and
disappeared at the top of a hill on the horizon.

'He'll come!' he whispered into his uncle's ear; 'and I shall say
good-bye to the House and go. I'm only waiting. He'll come along that
road. I come here to expec' him every day.'

Not a vestige of doubt in the eager happy voice. His uncle looked at
him in wonder.

'How do you know he hasn't forgotten you? You have never got a letter
from him, have you? And he mightn't want to be bothered with a small
boy.'

But no shadow came across Bobby's earnest, trustful eyes.

'He's my father. He likes me acause I belongs to him. He's the person
that likes me in the earth, and God is the other Person. He's up in
heaven, but I belongs to Him too. And God likes me very much!'

There was supreme self-satisfaction in his tone.

His uncle smiled.

'Your theology doesn't sound right to me. I was always told that it
was only very good boys that were liked by God.'

'Yes, that's what Nurse says; but God says diff'unt to Nobbles and me.
He talks to me sometimes when I'm in bed. He says He'll always like me
for ever and