Page 133 - Fairbrass

to him, begging him to be a good boy and

always to love his father. Regrets, vain
regrets ! From this room he quickly passed

into the one in which his father died, and his

eyes at once fell on the mother’s portrait, and
this, with the bitter tears streaming unheeded

down his face, he fervently, reverently

kissed. On the bed lay Pax, inconsolable
and resentful. At this unexpected intrusion

the poor dog growled angrily, but, recog­

nising Fairbrass, he looked at him with
sorrowful, beseeching eyes, and readily

responded to his gentle caresses. What

they whispered to each other at that moment
is not known, but it was noticeable that

from that moment Pax and Fairbrass were

inseparable*
With a strong effort the father composed

himself, and the three went downstairs into

the room where the dismal little funeral-
party had assembled. The lawyer, who had

the will in his hand, looked very curiously

at Fairbrass, and at once proceeded to read
it. T o the boy the legal verbiage was mere