"No, my dear child, not necessarily," he said, softly caressing her hair
and cheek; "your mother will be made welcome at Fairview if she sees fit
to go with us."
"But she wants to stay here and keep me with her; and it's my home, you
know, the dear home where everything reminds me of--papa, Will you let me
stay?"
"Do you really wish it, Evelyn? do you not desire to carry out the dying
wishes of the father you loved so dearly?"
"Yes, uncle," she said, the tears stealing down her cheeks, "but--perhaps
he wouldn't care now, and mamma is so sorely distressed at the thought of
separation; and--and it hurts me too; for she is my mother, and I have no
father now--or brother, or sister."
"You must let me be a father to you, my poor, dear child," he said in
moved tones, and drawing her closer; "I will do my utmost to fill his
place to you, and I hope you will come to me always with your troubles
and perplexities, feeling the same assurance of finding sympathy and help
that you did in carrying them to him."
"Oh, thank you!" she responded.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69