"That it was," said Rob gravely. "It was fine for Peter to get back
again."
"Just so," replied his father. "You see, when a man once turns his back
on his best Friend, he is never right till he gets back again."
"Yes, I know," said Rob gravely. For a time he sat with a shadow of
sadness and anxiety on his young face. "It is terrible!" he exclaimed.
"Terrible?" inquired the Doctor. "Oh, yes, you mean Peter's fall? Yes,
that was a terrible thing--to be untrue to our Master and faithless to
our best Friend."
"But he did not mean to, Dad," said Rob quickly, as if springing to
the fallen disciple's defence. "He forgot, just for a moment, and was
awfully sorry afterwards."
"Yes, truly," said his father, "and that was the first step back."
For a few moments Rob remained silent, his face sad and troubled.
"Man! It must be terrible!" at length he said, more to himself than
to his father. The Doctor looked closely at the little lad. The eager,
sensitive face, usually so radiant, was now clouded and sad.
"What is it, Rob? Is it something you can tell me?" asked his father in
a tone of friendly kindness.
Rob moved closer to him. The father waited in silence. He knew better
than to force an unwilling confidence. At length the lad, with an
obvious effort at self-command, said:
"It is to-morrow, Daddy, that Cameron--that Mr.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153