if he would run and kiss Tommy when he came back, and if he would make a
feast; and he said he would do anything to get him home again."

Milly paused, then said wistfully,--

"I wish I had a father, Uncle Edward. You see, nurse does for a mother,
but fathers are so fond of their children, aren't they?"

"It does not always follow that they are," Sir Edward replied.

"The probable son's father loved him, and Maxwell loves Tommy, and then
there was David, you know, who really had a wicked son, with long
hair--I forget his name--and he cried dreadful when he was dead. I
sometimes tell God about it when I'm in bed, and then He--He just seems
to put His arms round me and send me off to sleep; at least, I think He
does. Nurse says God likes me to call Him my Father, but of course that
isn't quite the same as having a father I can see. Maxwell is a very
nice father, I think. I told him I would pray for Tommy every night when
I go to bed, and then I told him that God had lots of probable sons,
too--the clergyman said so on Sunday, didn't he?--people who have run
away from Him. I've been asking God to make them come back. I hope He
will let me know when they do. Do you know any one who has run away from
God, uncle?"

"You are chattering too much, child," said Sir Edward irritably; "sit
still and be quiet."

Milly instantly obeyed, and after some moments of silence her uncle
said,--