sore just now, while it's all fresh. To-morrow by this time
they will be a-hanging o' themselves round about your neck, and a-askin'
of your pardon, and kissin' of you."

"No, Jem, no."

"Well, I don't mean as your uncle will be kissin' of you, of course; but
he'll be sorry too, and a-shaking of your hand."

Don shook his head.

"There, don't get wagging your head like a Chinee figger, my lad. Take
it like a man."

"It seems that the only thing for me to do, Jem, is to tie up a bundle
and take a stick, and go and try my luck somewhere else."

"And you free and independent! Why, what would you say if you was me,
tied up and married, and allus getting into trouble at home."

"Not such trouble as this, Jem."

"Not such trouble as this, my lad? Worser ever so much, for you don't
deserve it, and I do, leastwise, my Sally says I do, and I suppose I do
for being such a fool as to marry her."

"You ought to be ashamed to talk like that, Jem."

"So ought you, Mas' Don. I've often felt as if I should like to do as
you say and run right off, but I don't do it."

"You have felt like that, Jem?" cried Don, eagerly.

"Yes, often, my lad."

"Then let's go, Jem. Nobody cares for us here. Let's go right away to
one of the beautiful foreign countries Mike told me about, and begin a
new life."

"Shall us, Mas' Don?"

"Yes; why not? Get a passage in some ship, and stop where we like. He
has told me of dozens of places that must be glorious."

"Then we won't go," said Jem, decidedly. "If Mike Bannock says they're
fine spots, don't you believe him; they're bad 'uns."

"Then let's go and select a place for ourselves," cried Don.

"Lor! I do wonder at you, Mas' Don, wantin' to leave such a mother as
you've got, and asking me to leave my wife. Why, what would they do?"

"I don't know," said Don, sadly. "They care very little for us now.
You can do as you like; I shall go."

"Nay, nay, you won't, my lad."

"Yes, Jem, I think I shall."

"Ah, that's better! Think about it."

"I should have thought that you'd be glad to come with me, Jem."

"So I should, my lad; but there's a some'at as they calls dooty as allus
seems to have hold on me tight. You wait a bit, and see how things turn
out."

"But I shall have to appear before the magistrates, and be called a
thief."

"Ah, well, that won't be pleasant, my lad, of course; but wait."

"Then you wouldn't go with me, Jem?"

"Don't tempt a man, Mas' Don,