"But why have I not heard of him before?" asked Linton; "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.
