There lay in the timid, trembling tone a gentle questioning reproach
which children only use to their particular friends when they consider
themselves neglected by them.
Now, worse luck, he was bound to look up. The boy had come out of his
corner. With his right arm round the plaid rug, he stood by the table
glancing up shyly at Leo with a half-pathetic, half-excited smile.
"Who are you, my little man?" he stammered.... He felt as if he had
seen a ghost. Here were _her_ eyes in Rhaden's peaky face.
"Why, I am Paul, of course," said the boy. "Don't you really know me
any more, Uncle Leo?"
He forced himself into a joyous exclamation of surprise. There had
always been a tie of affection between him and the poor little fellow.
He could not hurt his feelings now without cause. His hands clasped
together convulsively.
"Warn him not to touch them," something cried aloud within him. But the
boy had caught hold of them already, and leaning against him, he began
to chatter freely--
"I knew you at once, Uncle Leo. Directly you came in. But what a long
beard you've got now. You had a beard before, but it was much shorter.
Oh, it is such a dreadful long time since you went away. And I thought
when you came back you would sure to bring me something, ... because
you always used to bring me presents.... The rocking-horse you gave me
once I have got still. But it is too little for me now, and I have got
a bigger one, yours is the foal. You should just see how pretty they
look together."
Leo bit his lips, and nodded, smiling.
"How long have you been home, Uncle Leo?" the boy asked.
"About a month. Paulchen," he answered.
"And why haven't you been to see us?" he asked again. "When my other
papa was alive you used to come every day."
"I have had no time, Paulchen."
"But you will come soon?"
"When I can, of course, Paulchen."
A proud smile now beamed on the boy's thin face, the short crooked
brows of which had been working nervously up and down.
"But I shan't be at home when you come," he said, putting his hands in
his pockets. "I am going to school."