Part 9 (1/2)
”No, it mustn't be thought of, for then we should be acting a lie, which is almost, if not quite, as bad as telling one.”
”How do you make that out?” Jack asked in surprise.
”We shouldn't lock the doors unless it was to give him the impression that there was no one at home, which would be a falsehood.”
The expression on Jack's face told that he failed to understand either the argument or the spirit which prompted it, and for several moments no word was spoken.
Then, as a happy thought occurred to him, the boy said eagerly,--
”I'll tell you how it could be done without any lie at all, an'
everything would go along as slick as grease.”
”How?” Aunt Nancy asked quickly, as a look of relief pa.s.sed over her face.
”I'll watch up the road a piece till I see the team comin'. Then I'll run back here, get Louis, an' carry him off somewhere.”
”Well?” the little woman asked as he paused.
”Why, can't you see how easy it'll be then? You'll only have to tell him you don't know where we are, an' he'll be bound to leave.”
”But, Jack dear, I should know where you were.”
”How do you make that out?”
”You wouldn't leave the farm, an' while I--”
”That's jest what you don't know. I didn't tell you where we'd go. It would be the same thing if we left for New York this minute; you might think we was on the road somewhere; but that wouldn't make it so.”
Aunt Nancy remained silent, and although he did not believe she was convinced, Jack fancied there was a look of hesitation on her face as if she might be persuaded into complying with his request, therefore he added eagerly,--
”You want us to stay here, an'--”
”Indeed I do!” the little woman replied fervently. ”I never knew a boy who seemed so much like our own folks as you do, and since last night it has been a great relief to think I should have you with me this summer.”
”And if Mr. Pratt knows we're anywhere around, he'll snake us away for certain.”
”I don't understand how that can be done, Jack.”
”Neither do I; but he has come to do it, an' you can't stop him. Now I'll promise to go where you'd never guess of our bein', an' then there wouldn't be the least little bit of a lie in sayin' you didn't know.”
”I would do almost anything for the sake of keeping you here, Jack, except to commit a sin.”
”This way you won't be doin' anything of the kind. I reckon my clothes are dry now, an' I'd better put 'em on so's to be ready to watch for Mr.
Pratt.”
Then Jack hurried off as if the matter had been positively settled.