Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/293

Rh called three times, then he sauntered over looking bored.

"What is it?" he demanded, looking me up and down.

"I only want to introduce you to this gentleman; he has got a little girl here for you to dance with."

"But I don't want to dance with his little girl," Bobby cried, dragging himself from his father's hands. "Do let me go. You always worry so!"

"He is very shy," the father said; "poor little chap!"

But he did not attempt to retain his son. I saw Bobby a few minutes after counting with his eyes the dishes upon the supper-table, which he intended to raid as soon as he got an opportunity.

The little dull man and I continued a disjointed conversation for the rest of the evening. I found he lived in the next house to my own.

"I have often seen you passing," he said.

I wondered if I had ever seen him; but realized that if I had I must have passed him unnoticed—the little grey, insignificant man.