or you won't lie here much longer. You'll miss not
bein' able to talk about me, won't you?"

Mrs. Mudge paused a moment as if expecting an answer to her highly
sarcastic question, but Paul felt that no advantage would be gained by
saying more.. He was not naturally a quick-tempered buy, and had only
been led to this little ebullition by the wanton attack by Mrs. Mudge.

This lady, after standing a moment as if defying the twain to a further
contest, went out, slamming the door violently after her.

"You did wrong to provoke her, Paul," said Aunt Lucy, gravely.

"How could I help it?" asked Paul, earnestly. "If she had only abused
ME, I should not have cared so much, but when she spoke about you, who
have been so kind to me, I could not be silent."

"I thank you, Paul, for your kind feeling," said the old lady, gently,
"but we must learn to bear and forbear. The best of us have our faults
and failings."

"What are yours, Aunt Lucy?"

"O, a great many."

"Such as what?"

"I am afraid I am sometimes discontented with the station which God has
assigned me."

"I don't think you can be very much to blame for that. I should never
learn to be contented here if I lived to the age of Methuselah."

Paul lay quite still for an hour or more. During that time he formed a
determination which will be announced in the next chapter.

VI.

PAUL'S DETERMINATION

At the close of the last chapter it was stated that Paul had come to a
determination.

This was,--TO RUN AWAY.

That he had good reason for this we have already seen.

He was now improving rapidly, and only waited till he was well enough to
put his design into execution.

"Aunt Lucy," said he one day, "I've got something to tell you."

The old lady looked up inquiringly.

"It's something I've been thinking of a long time,--at least most of the
time since I've been sick. It isn't pleasant for me to stay here, and
I've pretty much made up my mind that I sha'n't."

"Where will you go?" asked the old lady, dropping her work in surprise.

"I don't know of any particular place, but I should be better off most
anywhere than here."

"But you are so young, Paul."

"God will take care of me, Aunt Lucy,--mother used to tell me that.
Besides, here I have no hope of learning anything or improving my
condition. Then again, if I stay here, I can never do what father wished
me to do."

"What is that, Paul?"

Paul told the story of his father's indebtedness