Good heavens! I should think so."

"Then be more grateful, dear," she smiled.

Rapturously he confessed he had erred, and was even sufficiently in love
to think he perceived how.

"I positively must go now," she said in a little, and, despite his
protestations, rose.

"Shall we walk?" he asked.

"Haven't you a cab call?"

"But you haven't been out of a hansom all day, and it's only ten
minutes--"

"Oh, bother the expense!" she cried. "I believe in being sensibly
economical, but not in being _close_."

Again he cheerfully accepted the gentle rebuke as the reproof his
inconsistency deserved.

And so off they whirled in a hansom.

At that very same hour, far, far to the northward, the winter sun was
struggling in gleams through the pine-tops and falling in patches on the
moss. For an instant one patch lit the hat of straw and gentle face of
Ellen Berstoun; and though it was but a small patch, it also lit a large
tweed cap a few inches higher up. Beneath the cap a voice murmured--

"Ellen!"

No more letters came to her now from India; and no longer she walked
alone.

These incidents occurred nearly three years ago. Since then Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Walkingshaw and Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Vernon have grown into
comparatively old married couples.

As for the genial and sagacious author of their happiness, the latest
report to hand informs the present editor that the name of James Heriot
Walkingshaw stands first in the batting averages of a select preparatory
school.

THE END

Transcriber's Note:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise,
every effort has been made to remain true to the author's intent.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Prodigal Father, by J. Storer Clouston

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRODIGAL FATHER ***

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