"According to Abner's story, he don't know many of the York State folks except them as lives in Binghamton. Perhaps he's settling down, and isn't as newsy as when he was with me."
"If he can't help us, what are Louis an' I to do?"
"Stay here, of course."
"But, Aunt Nancy, I must try to find Louis's relations, even if his father and mother are dead."
"I reckon you're bound to do that somehow; but there's no sense in trying to walk to New York while the weather is so hot."
Then the little woman, as if believing the matter had been finally settled, began to speak of the subject which was very near her heart, and for at least the hundredth time Jack was forced to listen to her lamentations because of the equivocation when Farmer Pratt called.
It was particularly hard for him to remain quiet during her self-accusations, for now that it was useless to expect "brother Abner" could do anything in the way of learning the details concerning the fate of the good ship "Atlanta," it seemed in the highest degree important to decide upon some course of action.
He was well content to stay where he was a certain time; but it seemed as if he should have at least some idea of what was to be done in the future.
Aunt Nancy did not give him an opportunity to discuss the matter, however, and when the hour came to search the house for supposed burglars he was in a fine state of perplexity.
On the following morning it seemed as if the little woman had dismissed all such thoughts from her mind, for whenever she spoke to Jack it was upon anything rather than how he might best accomplish that which he believed to be his duty.