Part 21 (1/2)
”You do!” said the doctor excitedly.
”Yes. He is just the wild little savage for you to reclaim.”
”But--but a little too bad, Helen?”
”No, papa, I think not; and I think you are not justified in saying bad.
I believe he is a very good boy.”
”You do?”
”Yes; full of mischief as a boy can be, but very, very affectionate.”
”Yes. I think he is,” a.s.sented the doctor.
”I think he will be very teachable.”
”Humph!”
”And it was plain to see that he was touched to the heart with grief at our anger.”
”Or is it all his artfulness!”
”Oh no, papa! Certainly not that. The boy is frank and affectionate as can be.”
”Then you think it is possible to make a gentleman of him?”
”If it is possible of any boy whom you could get from the Union, papa.”
”And you really think he is frank and tender-hearted?”
Helen pointed to the boy's untouched plate.
”And you would not exchange him for something a little more tractable?”
”I don't think you could. I really begin to like the mischievous little fellow, and I believe that in a very short time we should see a great change.”
”You do?”
”Yes; but of course we must be prepared for a great many more outbreaks of this kind.”
”Unless I stop them.”
”No, no, you must not stop them,” said Helen quietly. ”These little ebullitions must not be suppressed in that way--I mean with undue severity.”
”Then you really would not take--I mean send him back?”
”No,” said Helen. ”I think, perhaps, I could help you in all this.”
”My dear Helen,” cried the doctor eagerly. ”My dear child, you don't know how pleased you make me. I felt that for your sake I must take him back.”