The pitiful tone and look touched Sir Edward's heart, and, on the
impulse of the moment, he did what he had never as yet attempted--lifted
her upon his knee, and told her to proceed with her story; and Milly,
after a final struggle with her tears, got the better of them, and was
able to give him a pretty clear account of what had happened.

"I had bought your pens and blotting-paper, uncle, and was going to a
picture-shop to spend the rest of my money when nurse had finished at
the grocer's. I was standing outside, when I saw a man coming along. He
limped, and his hat was broken in, and he was so ragged that I thought
he must be a probable son, and then I thought he might be Tommy going
home, and when I thought that, I couldn't think of nothing else, and I
forgot all about nurse, and I forgot she told me to stay there, and I
ran after him as hard as I could. I caught him up, and he looked very
astonished when I asked him was his name Tommy. He said, 'No,' and he
laughed at me, and then I asked him was he a probable son, because he
looked like one. He said he didn't know what kind of person that was.
And then I had to explain it to him. He told me he had never had a home
to run away from, so that wouldn't do; but he really looked just like
the man I've seen in Mr. Maxwell's picture, and I told him so, and then
I found out what he was, and I was so sorry, and yet I was so glad."

Milly paused, and her large, expressive eyes shone as she turned them up
to her uncle's face, and her voice dropped almost to a whisper as she
said,--

"I found out he was one of God's probable sons. When I asked him if he
had run away from God, he said yes, he supposed he had done that, so of
course he was ragged and unhappy."