Part 45 (2/2)

This is the sort of thing they had trained themselves to expect since coming to Batemans.

”Where's Miles?” asked Roy, as he brought a fresh pail of water and set it down beside his brother.

”He was coming out but his father called him into his room.”

”We'll miss them when they go, won't we, Reggie? It has been jolly good fun to have Miles with us all summer. You ought to feel quite proud to think you are a strong enough magnet to keep him here.”

”I can't understand it at all, why they should have stayed,” returned Rex.

He did not speak very cheerfully. The Darleys were to leave the very next week. It was impossible but that Rex should realize vividly to what they were returning. He did not tell Roy so, but he wished they had not come.

There was only one wheel of the omnibus to finish when Miles came hurrying toward them. There was an expression on his face which neither of the twins could comprehend. It was a blending of fear, joy and stupefaction.

”Here, let me help,” he said, as he came up. ”I want you fellows to hurry and get through. I've something to tell you.”

But they had so nearly finished that there was nothing left for him to undertake.

”What have you got to tell us?” asked Rex, throwing his sponge back into the bucket.

”I wish I knew how you fellows would take it,” returned Miles, a flush creeping over his face.

”Try us and find out,” rejoined Roy with a smile.

”I'm simply delighted myself,” went on the other. ”I wonder how I can keep my two feet on the ground. It seems too good to be true.”

”Then why are you in doubt how we'll take it,” said Rex. ”What pleases you ought certainly to please us.”

”But perhaps this won't. It's so-- so, unexpected and altogether jolly.”

”Well, Miles Darley, you are certainly the most incomprehensible fellow this afternoon,” exclaimed Roy. ”What's it about?”

”Well, it's about the Pells and the Darleys,” explained Miles, the color still surging in his cheeks. ”In union there is strength, you know, and-- haven't you guessed it yet?”

”No, indeed, we haven't and just you tell us right out what it is without any more fooling,” and Rex made a playful dab at his friend with the big sponge.

”All right, here goes then,” and Miles drew in his breath. ”Your mother has told my father that she will be Mrs. Darley, and that makes us brothers, Rex, don't you see, and we're all going back to Philadelphia together-- well, don't you like it?”

Miles checked himself suddenly, for Roy and Rex stood staring at him as if struck dumb, too amazed to allow any expression to appear on their faces.

But it was all true; they were to have another test of fortune, and though its bringing about seemed in some sense to deprive the boys of their mother, they knew that not only was this not so, but that they were to gain a father thereby. ”And a brother, too, don't forget that,” Miles adds at my side.

THE END.

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