Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/30

24 mother are not the ones to teach him how much that is good he still has left; and he looks to me like a boy that will take this very hard.”

“Who wouldn’t?” said Bess impetuously. Then she added, “ What a shame you couldn’t have been Fred’s mother! You ought to have the bringing-up of all the boys in the country.”

“I should probably have been the worst possible mother for most of them,” replied Mrs. Carter, with a smile. “But when shall you go to see how Fred is? I think you almost ought to go soon, for the boy is so fond of you.”

“I told Rob I should go to-morrow; and oh, how I dread it! I don’t know at all how I shall find him: whether he is over his old  trouble, or whether he can see now. I suppose I ought to go, though. Poor Rob was quite upset by the news.”

“He is a sympathetic boy and very fond of Fred. I wish he would go to see him when he can. He is so gentle he wouldn’t tire him; and his quiet fun would be the best possible  medicine for the poor child.”

“Rob promised to go when he might. I think it took all his heroism, for he is so afraid