“Would you rather go away?” Aunt Hannah asked in surprise.
“No, I wouldn’t!” Seth cried passionately, the tears coming dangerously near his eyelids. “I’d do anything in this world for the sake of havin’ such a home as this; but all the same, Snip an’ I can’t stay to bother you. We’ll leave when he comes back.”
“Listen to me, my child,” and now the little woman spoke with a degree of firmness which sounded strangely from one so mild, “you are not to go away this day, no matter what may be done later. We will talk about my plan after dinner, and then perhaps you’ll feel like explaining why you think it necessary to go further in search of work after I have given you a chance to earn what you and the dog may need.”
Then Gladys’ voice was heard in the distance as she urged Snip on in his pursuit of a butterfly, and Aunt Hannah went quickly into the dwelling, leaving Seth gazing after her wistfully as he muttered:
“I never believed there was such a good woman in this world!”
CHAPTER IV.
THE FLIGHT.
Neither Gladys nor Snip came into the barn immediately after their return, probably because the former had some report to make as to the message with which she had been entrusted, and Seth was left alone to turn over in his mind all that Aunt Hannah had said.
A very disagreeable half hour he spent in the conflict between what he believed to be his duty and his inclination.