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