Rod told about the scouts, Whyn, the Britts, Miss Arabella,
and his own life at the rectory. Miss Royanna led him deftly along to
tell about these various people, especially Mr. and Mrs. Royal. Soon
she learned much about Rod's daily work, what he was fond of most of
all, and numerous other things concerning his life.
"Have you lived long with your grandparents?" she asked.
"Ever since I was a baby. I was left there one dark, wild night by my
mother."
"And so you have never seen her?"
"No. But I have had letters from her, though. She's coming to see me
sometime this summer."
"How nice that will be. Won't you be glad to see her?"
"In a way I will," was the slow, doubtful reply. "But I'm afraid that
she'll want to take me away."
"Wouldn't you like to go with your mother? She must long for you so
much."
"But I don't know her, you see. She's a stranger to me. I know that I
ought to love my mother, but somehow I can't."
"Oh!" The exclamation came suddenly from the woman's lips. She
clasped her hands before her, and stared hard into space. So this was
the outcome of it all? she said to herself. This was all that she had
gained by her years of struggle and self-denial.
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