Part 91 (1/2)
”--he would have gone up to bed to-night careless and indifferent after shedding a few fict.i.tious tears--”
”Very likely.”
”--and be sleeping heartily by now.”
”As he is, I'll be bound,” cried the doctor energetically.
”Of course, I may be wrong,” said Helen, ”but Dexter strikes me as being so sensitive a boy--so easily moved, that, I am ready to say, I am sure that he is lying there half-heartbroken, crying bitterly, now he is alone.”
”I'll soon prove that,” said the doctor sharply; and, crossing the room in his slippers, he silently lit a candle and went upstairs to Dexter's door, where he stood listening for a few minutes, to find that all was perfectly still. Then turning the handle quietly, he entered, and it was quite half an hour before he came out.
”Well, papa?” said Helen, as the doctor returned to the drawing-room.
”You're a witch, my dear,” he said.
”I was right?”
”You always are, my dear.”
”And you will not send him back to the Union schools!”
”Send him back!” said the doctor contemptuously.
”Nor have him apprenticed?” said Helen, with a laughing light in her eyes.
”Have him ap--Now that's too bad, my dear,” cried the doctor. ”Danby will laugh at me enough. You need not join in. Poor boy! I'm glad I went up.”
There was a pause, during which the doctor sat back in his chair.
”Do you know, my dear, I don't feel very sorry that the young dog went off.”
”Not feel sorry, papa!”
”No, my dear. It shows that the young rascal has plenty of energy and spirit and determination.”
”I hope you did not tell him so!”
”My dear child, what do you think me?” cried the doctor testily. ”By the way, though, he seems to thoroughly see through his companion's character now. I can't help wis.h.i.+ng that he had given that confounded young cad a sound thras.h.i.+ng.”
”Papa!”
”Eh? No, no: of course not,” said the doctor. ”I was only thinking aloud.”
Helen sat over her work a little longer, feeling happier than she had felt since Dexter left the house; and then the lights were extinguished, and father and daughter went up to bed.
The doctor was very quiet and thoughtful, and he stopped on the stairs.
”Helen, my dear,” he whispered, ”see the women-servants first thing in the morning, and tell them I strictly forbid any allusion whatever to be made to Dexter's foolish prank.”
Helen nodded.