Page:Steadfast Heart.djvu/77

 “But you must remember that everybody is glad to have you here. You’re going to enjoy Sunday school.”

He shook his head slowly.

“What? You won’t enjoy coming?”

“It ain’t that…. I dunno.” He looked again at the boys and cast a glance at a little girl who was standing on tiptoe to peer over the back of a seat at him. “They,” he said, pointing, “don’t want me here.”

“Of course they want you. I’ll introduce you and then it will be all right.” She motioned to the boys. “Come closer. This is Angus Burke, and he’s going to be in our class. Shake hands with him, and we’ll get acquainted before the lesson begins.”

They hung back with faces which became stubborn.

She singled out a fresh-faced boy. “Harold Cuyler, won’t you come and shake hands with Angus?”

Harold drew down his lip sullenly and put his hand behind him. “No,” he said stubbornly. “I don’t want nothin’ to do with him. He’s a murderer.”

“Shame!” Mary's voice was sharp. “He’s not a murderer. He’s just a little boy like yourselves, only he hasn’t had the good things and the good times you’ve had. He’s been very unfortunate