He remembered hearing rumours of missing furniture in the house, and almost a smile came into his eyes as he saw the little old table with the spirit-lamp and teapot thereon, the bed-clothing and washing-basin.

But a stern look succeeded it.

Were seventy-seven miles not sufficient obstacle to Judy's mischievous plans?
How did she dare thus to defy him, a child of thirteen: and he her father?
His lips compressed ominously, and he went down again and strode heavily back to the house.
"Esther!" he called, in a vibrating voice at the foot of the stairs.
And "Coming, dear--half a minute," floated down in response.
Half a minute passed ten times, and then she came, the beautiful young mother with her laughing-faced wee son in her arms.

Her eyes looked so tender; and soft, and loving that he turned away impatiently; he knew quite well how it would be; she would beg and entreat him to forgive his little daughter when she heard, and when she looked as bright and beautiful as she did just now he could refuse her nothing.
He stood in profound meditation for a minute or two.
"What is it you want, John ?" she said.

"Oh! and what do you think?
I have just found another tooth, a double one--come and look." He came, half unwillingly, and stuck his little finger into his infant son's mouth.
Esther guided it till it felt a tiny, hard substance.