Something rose up in his throat once more, but he hastily forced himself to think of things that he loved, one by one, until it was choked down again.
"Now I had better go," said the school-master, and nodding, turned away.
Both parents followed him as usual out on the door-step; here the school-master took a quid of tobacco, and smiling said,-- "He will be number one, after all; but it is not worth while that he should know anything about it until the day comes." "No, no," said the father, and nodded.
"No, no," said the mother, and she nodded too; after which she grasped the school-master's hand and added: "We thank you for all you do for him." "Yes, you have our thanks," said the father, and the school-master moved away.
They long stood there gazing after him..