Part 30 (2/2)
His mind once made up, he was eager to reach the tent, and ran at full speed, arriving just as Deacon Downs summoned the occupants of this particular dwelling to dinner.
The little woman was acting as cook, a post of duty to which she had been elected each year because the remainder of the party knew she would perform the arduous labors without complaint.
To speak with her now would be to attract the attention of all, and Jack believed he should wait until a more convenient season.
Therefore he seated himself at the rough table around which all the others, save Aunt Nancy, were gathered, and tried unsuccessfully to appear as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Jack's face told of some trouble, however, and when the deacon had refreshed himself with a large cup of Aunt Nancy's Mocha, he asked in a severe tone,--
”Master Dudley, is it possible that after living with as good a woman as Sister Curtis, you allow your pa.s.sions to tempt you into fighting? Don't you remember what Dr. Watts says about letting 'dogs delight to bark and bite, for 'tis their nature,' et cetera?”
Perhaps Jack might have understood the deacon's question, had it not been for the last word.
What an ”et cetera” was he hadn't the slightest idea, and instead of replying sat staring stupidly at his plate until Aunt Nancy came forward and asked,--
”What is it about Jack? Has he been doing anything out of the way?”
”By the appearance of his face I should say he had. It is strange boys will fight in such a place as this!”
”Why, what _has_ happened to you, Jack dear?” the little woman asked anxiously as she lifted the boy's head by placing her hand under his chin.
Jack said nothing, and Aunt Nancy asked, as the crimson spots appeared on her cheeks,--
”Has William Dean been troubling you again?”
”I had rather tell you some other time,” Jack replied in a whisper, as he slipped down from his seat at the table and went toward the scene of the little woman's culinary operations.
She followed him at once, and the good but rather inquisitive deacon craned his neck in vain to hear what pa.s.sed between the two.
”It was Bill Dean; but don't say anything about it now, for I've just seen Farmer Pratt,” Jack said in a low tone; and as Aunt Nancy started in surprise, a cry of distress came from Deacon Downs's lips.
At the moment Jack spoke, the little woman was in the act of removing the coffee pot from the stove, for fear its contents should boil over, when it fell to the ground.
Neither Aunt Nancy nor the hunchback paid any attention to this catastrophe; but the deacon was so angry he even threatened that Jack should not be allowed near the tent again.
It is doubtful if his words were heard by the two who were in such distress of mind.
Aunt Nancy led Jack to the rear of the tent, and there, where no one could overhear, he told the whole story, concluding by saying,--
”You have felt so bad I had a great mind to go right up an' tell him how it happened you acted a lie.”
”But, Jack dear, then he might drag you off to the poor farm.”
”I had rather do that than have you feel as you do about it. Louis could stay here, an' I wouldn't tell him where you were, no matter how hard he might try to make me.”
”I should go to him myself and confess all,” the little woman said after a pause.
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