them if I saw them?"

"No, not at all. I never heard of your father, so I think he must be
dead. But I believe that your mother is a good, noble woman."

"Why doesn't she come to see me, then?"

"I do not know, dear. But she says that she will come some day. She
longs to see you, and in every letter she writes she asks so many
questions about you. I have read some of them to you. She wrote many
when you were very little, and I have kept every one."

"Have you, grandma? I am so glad. Will you read them to me sometimes?"

"Yes, dear, I shall read you one or two every night."

"Oh, that will be so nice. And I am glad that Tom Dunker was wrong.
He didn't know about my mother, did he?"

"No, dear."

"Do you think Captain Josh knows, grandma?"

"Why, what makes you think that, Rodney?"

"'Cause he was so kind to me to-day. He took my part, and then brought
me such a nice lunch."

"Brought you a lunch!" Mrs. Royal exclaimed, in surprise. "What do you
mean?"