'Why didn't mamma and he live together, as other people do ?' 'He had business to keep him in the north,' I answered, 'and your mother's health required her to reside in the south.' 'And why didn't mamma speak to me about him ?' persevered the child.

'She often talked of uncle, and I learnt to love him long ago.

How am I to love papa?
I don't know him.' 'Oh, all children love their parents,' I said.

'Your mother, perhaps, thought you would want to be with him if she mentioned him often to you.
Let us make haste.

An early ride on such a beautiful morning is much preferable to an hour's more sleep.' 'Is _she_ to go with us,' he demanded, 'the little girl I saw yesterday ?' 'Not now,' replied I.
'Is uncle ?' he continued.
'No, I shall be your companion there,' I said.
Linton sank back on his pillow and fell into a brown study.
'I won't go without uncle,' he cried at length: 'I can't tell where you mean to take me.' I attempted to persuade him of the naughtiness of showing reluctance to meet his father; still he obstinately resisted any progress towards dressing, and I had to call for my master's assistance in coaxing him out of bed.