Had he been an ordinary child, and given him trouble, he would possibly have hated him; as it was, he had a great though sadly inoperative affection for the boy, which was an endless good to them both.
After many bootless trials, bootless the feet must remain, and George, laying the failure down in despair, rose from his knees, and left Gibbie seated on the chest more like a king discrowned, than a beggar unshod.

And like a king the little beggar bore his pain.

He heaved one sigh, and a slow moisture gathered in his eyes, but it did not overflow.

One minute only he sat and hugged his desolation--then, missing his father, jumped off the box to find him.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking infinitely more disconsolate than Gibbie felt, his head and hands hanging down, a picture of utter dejection.

Gibbie bounded to him, climbed on the bed, and nearly strangled him in the sharp embrace of his little arms.