He arranged a cushion behind the little back.
Roberta judged the boy to be about eight or nine years old, though small
for his age, as such children are. Richard undid the case and produced a
small fishing-rod, which he fell to preparing for use, talking gayly as
he did so, watched eagerly by his youthful companion. Evidently the boy
was to have a great and unaccustomed pleasure.
Well, it was certainly in line with that which Roberta had heard of this
young man, but somehow to see something of it with her own eyes was
singularly more convincing. She could not bring herself to get up and go
away--surely there could be no need to feel that she was spying if she
stayed to watch the interesting scene. If Richard had chosen a spot
which he fancied entirely secluded from observation, it was undoubtedly
wholly on the boy's own account. She could easily imagine how such a
child as this one would shrink from observation in a public place,
particularly when he was to try the dearly imagined but wholly unknown
delight of fishing. It was plain that he was very shy, even with this
kind friend, for it was only now and then that he replied in words to
Richard's talk, though the response in the white face and big black eyes
was eloquent enough.
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