"Never knew such a day in all me life before," Stumper admitted
frankly. "Couldn't--simply couldn't stay indoors."
He still retained a trace of challenge in his tone. But no one
challenged. Judy took his arm. "So you came out?" she said softly.
"Like us," said Uncle Felix.
"Of course," Tim added. But it was the Tramp who supplied the
significant words they had all been waiting for, Stumper himself more
eagerly than any one else. "To look," he remarked quite naturally.
Stumper might have just won a great world-victory, judging by the
expression that danced upon his face. He dropped all pretence at
further concealment. He put his other arm round Tim's shoulder, partly
to balance himself better against Judy's pushing, and partly because
he realised the companionship of both children as very dear just then.
He had a great deal to say, and wanted to say it all at once, but
words never came to him too easily; he had missed many an opportunity
in life for the want of fluent and spontaneous address. He stammered
and halted somewhat in his delivery. A new language with but a single
word in it would have suited him admirably.
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