“They seemed to be in their usual state of health when I last saw them. I have left Mr. Chatford’s; did you know it?”
“Left—Deacon Chatford’s! Why, lad, you astonish me!” And Aunt Patsy, who was putting some chips on the fire, turned and stared at her guest. “I thought you was kind of adopted by them.”
At this the cheery tone of voice in which Jack had spoken began to fail him. “I—I thought—I hoped so—too,” he murmured, standing beside the mantel-piece. “But I have left. I can never go back there again. I’m in a bad scrape, and even if I get out of it I can’t go back; for there’s a lie between Phin and me, and of course they believe Phin and blame me,” he went on with swelling passion in his tones. “I’ve just come in to say good by to you.”
“Good by, Jack? You can’t mean it! Where ye goin’?” And the amazed old woman and the agitated boy stood facing each other in the flickering firelight.
“I don’t know! I just want to see her first,—I mean Miss Felton,—and get my dog; then I’m off; no matter where. I mustn’t be seen here. You couldn’t hide me, could you, if anybody should come in? There’s a constable after me.”
“A constable! Why, what is the trouble? I’ll bar the door, the fust thing!” The door was barred, and then Aunt Patsy carefully arranged her dingy window-curtains so that no spying eye could look in. “Now, here is the wood-shed; you know that well enough, often as you have been in it to split my wood for me. The door is hooked on the inside. You might slip in here, if anybody comes; and then, if I give ye a signal, spring out of that door or out of the back winder, either. But I don’t see why anybody should be s’archin’ for ye in my house!”
“Peternot knows I come here sometimes,” said Jack. “But never mind. I’ve slipped through the officer’s hands twice to-day. I’ll risk him!”
“Is it Peternot!” exclaimed the old woman, angrily. “Tell me about it! Meanwhile ye must drink a cup o’ tea with me.”
In vain Jack protested that he did not drink tea, that he wasn’t hungry, and begged her not to trouble herself for him. She removed the pewter plate and cracked cup, and, reaching the top shelf of her closet, brought down the last remnants of an old-fashioned china tea-set, a couple of plates and cups and saucers, once fair and delicate but now much defaced by wear, the edges being nicked and the original colored figures and gilding mostly gone.
While more bread was toasting, Jack began his story.