Beman, Peewee reflected, did not know that he knew who his father was. He had to be told now, for nothing could be accomplished without it.
"I ran away because you were going to show me to her and tell her who I am."
Beman seemed surprised as much as an old man can be surprised.
"I listened at the door," Peewee explained, "and heard you say that to him—that you were going to tell her."
Beman seemed to comprehend. "I see," he said. He thought a moment. "Don't happen to have learned yet who your father is, have you?"
He wanted to discover, Peewee comprehended, how much had been overheard, and was concealing his real question under the indirectness of this inquiry.
"I knew that all along," Peewee answered with sweetness.
Beman seemed amazed and appeared to have gained a sudden respect for Peewee as, though he recognized that Peewee was deeper than he
