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n, aunt Dorcas, an' some time I'll be back to pay you for bein' so good to us." The little woman looked at Joe for an instant, as if not understanding what he had said, and repeated: "Going away?" "Yes, aunt Dorcas, we've got to. Even if you was willin' we should stay, after what I've told you, I wouldn't agree to hang 'round, livin' on you, while there are two other fellers doin' the same thing." Aunt Dorcas gazed at Joe steadily during several seconds, and then said, in a decided tone: "I don't understand what you have tried to tell me; but it is certain, Joseph Potter, that you sha'n't leave my house while you are wounded so seriously." "I ain't wounded, aunt Dorcas, an' I'm as well able to go this minute as I was when I came." "It doesn't make any difference whether you are or not. I sha'n't allow you to step your foot off of these premises until I know more about this affair. It is all a mistake from beginning to end; there can be no question of that, and I'll get at the bottom of it before we are very much older. Now go straight to bed, and mind what I told you about getting up in the morning." Aunt Dorcas pulled the bandages apart sufficiently to admit of her kissing Joe on the lips, and then, putting the lamp in his hand, she led him to the stairway. "You're an awful good woman, aunt Dorcas, an' some day I'll be able to do more than tell you so." "Good night, my boy. Put this matter entirely out of your mind and go to sleep." When Joe gained the chamber once more, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart. The confession which caused him so much anxiety had been made, and, instead of reproaching him for having come to her home, aunt Dorcas was the same kindly, Christianlike woman as when he first saw her. Master Plummer, who had slept peacefully during all the adventures of the night, was disturbed by the light of the lamp, as it shone full in his face, and opening his eyes, he said, petulantly: "What are you doin'--" He ceased speaking suddenly, as he saw his friend's bandaged face, and cried, in something very like alarm, "Wha--wha--what's happened to you?" "There was a burglar in the house, an' I tackled him." This was sufficient to bring Master Plummer to a sitting posture at once, and he demanded to be told all the particulars. Joe began to comply with his friend's request, but was interrupted by the voice of aunt Dorcas from the room below. "Georg
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