Why didn't you tell me at supper-time?"

"I was afraid you and Gladys would try to stop me, an' perhaps I
couldn't stick to what I'd agreed on."

"Do you really want to leave us, Seth?"

"Indeed I don't, Aunt Hannah! I'd give anything in this world if I
could stay, for this is the very nicest place I ever was in. Oh,
indeed, I don't want to go away!"

"Then why not stay?"

"I can't! I can't, 'cause I'd have to tell----"

Seth did not finish the sentence, but buried his face in Snip's silky
hair.

"Is it because you can't tell me why you left the city?" And the
little woman laid her hand on the boy's shoulder with a motion not
unlike a caress.

Seth nodded, but did not trust himself to speak.

"Then go right back to bed. You shall stay here, my dear, until the
time comes when you can confide in me, and meanwhile I will not
believe you have been guilty of any wickedness."

CHAPTER V.

AN ACCIDENT.

FILLED with shame and confusion, Seth made no resistance when Aunt
Hannah ordered him back to bed; but obeyed silently, moving stealthily
as when he began the flight. He was trembling as with a sudden chill
when he undressed and laid himself down, while Snip lost no time in
curling his tiny body into a good imitation of a ball, wondering,
perhaps, why he had thus been needlessly disturbed in his "beauty
sleep."

Seth was no longer capable of speculating upon the problem in which he
had been involved through a lead nickel and an advertisement in the
newspapers. He could only realize that Aunt Hannah had good reason to
believe him a thief, or worse, otherwise she would not have been
waiting to discover if he attempted to prowl around the house while
she was supposed to be asleep, and his cheeks burned with shame at the
thought.

He wished that the night might never come to an end, and then he
would not be forced to meet her face to face, as he must when the sun
rose.

"Of course she'll tell Gladys where she found me, an' both of 'em will
believe I'm the worst feller that ever lived!" he whispered to
himself; and then tears, bitter and scalding, flowed down his cheeks,
moistening the spotless linen, but bringing some slight degree of
comfort, because sleep quickly followed in their train.

Seth was awakened next morning by Aunt Hannah's voice, as she called
gently:

"It's time to get up, my dear. The sun is out looking for boys an'
dogs, an' you mustn't disappoint him."

Snip ran eagerly down the