"The boy mustn't know. You always
plan everything for me--where shall I live now?"
She leaned forward, her blue eyes shining. "Oh, Richard," she breathed,
"if you only would--if you could--come to Rose and me! We'd be so glad!"
There was no mistaking her sincerity, and the Colonel's fine old face
illumined with pleasure. Merely to be wanted, anywhere, brings a certain
satisfaction.
"I'll come," he returned, promptly. "How good you are! How good you've
always been! I often wonder what I should ever have done without you."
He turned away and, lightly as a passing cloud, a shadow crossed his
face. Madame saw how hard it would be to part from his son, and, only in
lesser degree, his old home.
"Richard," she said, "a ship was sinking once in a fog, miles out of its
course. The captain ordered the band to play and all the officers put on
their dress uniforms. Another ship, also drifting, signalled in answer
to the music and all were saved."
The Colonel rose and offered his hand in farewell. "Thank you,
Francesca," he answered, deeply moved. "I put on my white gloves the day
you came to tell me.
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