After it was done he stood looking at him very gravely.  Then he said:  “Your little sister tells me that you took her out to dance and sing in the streets to-day to earn money, in order that you may run away from home.  Is that so?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Phil, in a very faint voice.

“So you are tired of your home,” continued the doctor, “and think you could find kinder treatment among strangers who care nothing for you.  I am sorry that my little son has come to such a conclusion.  But if you are determined to leave us, there is no necessity for you to slip off like a thief in the night.  Winter is coming on, and you will need all your warm clothes.  Better take time to pack them properly, and collect whatever of your belongings you want to keep.  I am very much afraid that this day’s work is going to make your little sister ill.  No doubt you will feel worse for it yourself, and will need a good rest before starting out.  Maybe you’d better wait until Monday, before you turn your back for ever on your home and family.”

The doctor waited a moment, but Phil made no answer.  After waiting another moment, still without a word from Phil, the doctor said, “Good night, my son,” and walked down-stairs into the library.

Now, I know well enough that, when we started out in the morning, Phil was fully determined to run away from home, as soon as he could earn enough money to take him.  I couldn’t understand what had changed his mind so completely.  You can imagine my surprise when he began to sob, “Oh, papa! papa!  You didn’t kiss me good night and you don’t care a bit if I run away!  Oh, I don’t want to go now!  I don’t want to!”

It sounded so pitiful that I got up off my cushion and walked over to the bed.  All that I could do was to take his head in my arms and rub it and pat it and rub it again.  I think it comforted him a little, although he sobbed out at first:  “Oh, Dago, you’re the only friend I’ve got!  It’s awful when a little boy’s mother is dead, and there isn’t anybody in the whole world to love him but a monkey!”

The door was open into Elsie’s room.  She heard what he said, and in a minute, she came pattering across the carpet in her little bare feet and climbed up on the bed beside me.

“Don’t say that, brother,” she begged, leaning over and kissing him.  “Dago isn’t the only one that loves you, ’cause there’s me.  Don’t cry.”

“But, oh,” wailed Phil, “papa didn’t say one word about my staying!  He doesn’t care if I run away.  He never once asked me not to, and I believe he’ll be glad when I’m gone, ’cause he can’t bear to see Aunt Patricia worried, and everything I do seems to worry her.  She says she doesn’t understand boys, and I s’pose it’s best for me to go.  But I don’t want to. Aow, I don’t want to!”