cried Joey hotly . He slid off the bench and faced Jimmy proudly and confidently . The unseen watcher on the other side of the hedge saw his face grow white and intense and set-lipped , as if it had been the face of a man . The grey eyes were alight with a steady , fearless glow . '' I 'll have something to do with him . He is my father and I love him . I do n't care what he did , I love him just as well as if he was the best man in the world . I love him better than if he was as good as your father , because he needs it more . I 've always loved him ever since I found out about him . I 'd write to him and tell him so , if Aunt Beatrice would tell me where to send the letter . Aunt Beatrice wo n't ever talk about him or let me talk about him , but I think about him all the time . And he 's going to be a good man yet , yes , he is , just as good as your father , Jimmy Morris . I 'm going to make him good . I made up my mind years ago what I would do and I 'm going to do it , so there , Jimmy . '' `` I do n't see what you can do , '' muttered Jimmy , already ashamed of what he had said and wishing he had let Joey 's father alone . `` I 'll tell you what I can do ! '' Joey was confronting all the world now , with his head thrown back and his face flushed with his earnestness . `` I can love him and stand by him , and I will . When he gets out of -- of prison , he 'll come to see me , I know he will . And I 'm just going to hug him and kiss him and say , ` Never mind , Father .
I know you 're sorry for what you 've done , and you 're never going XXXXX do it any more .
about ago as by if of on since to with