is father had left the car.
Then he peeped out and saw him going into the principal hotel of the
market town. When he had disappeared through the door Bobby crept from
his hiding-place, and, strangely enough, though there were two or three
ostlers standing by, he escaped observation. He was very disappointed
to find they were no farther away, for he dreaded being taken back to
his grandmother again. Then his natural hopefulness came to his aid.

'Father will keep me when I tells him how I want him; and if he tells
me to go home I'll come out and hide under the seat. Me and Nobbles
don't mean to leave him now we've found him.'

He pushed the hotel door open, but there was no sign of his father.
Nothing disconcerted, Bobby opened every door he saw and peeped inside
the rooms, and when he did not find him downstairs, he climbed upstairs.

And at last he was successful. In a comfortable sitting-room his
father was just in the act of drawing an easy-chair to the window, and
the little girl was by his side.

'Did you see him, dad?' she was asking eagerly. 'Did you see your own
little boy? And what was he like? Do tell me.'

Mr. Allonby dropped into his seat with a heavy sigh.

'Not a bit like his mother, True. Very like what I was at his age, I'm
afraid.'

'I belongs to you, father.'

Bobby could keep silence no longer. Decision and some reproach was in
his tone. His father started from his chair as if he had been shot.
The little girl laughed and clapped her hands.

'You brought him as a s'prise, dad. You brought him to play with me!'

'On my honour I didn't, True. It's some magic, I think. Come here my
boy. How on earth did you get here?'

Bobby marched up to his father. He wanted to show what a man he was,
but his lips quivered, and his hand grasping Nobbles quivered too.

'I comed in your carriage under the seat. I didn't tell an untroof. I
did walk out on the road to meet you. I've been waiting years and
_years_ for you to come for me.'

Then his self-control gave way; he grasped hold of his father's coat
and burst into tears.

In an instant his father had lifted him upon his knee, and that was
Bobby's happy moment. He tried to check his sobs.

'I belongs to you; I don't want to go back to the House nevermore; me
and Nobbles have come to stay.'

Mr. Allonby put his hand on the curly head that was now burrowing
itself into his waistcoat pocket.

'This is quite a surprise to me, my