Don't know why, but I do, and that's all about it." Dan laughed as he spoke, but he meant what he said, for he knit his black brows, and brought down his fist on the ledge with such force, that Mrs.Jo's thimble flew off into the grass.

He brought it back, and as she took it she held the big, brown hand a minute, saying, with a look that showed the words cost her something, "Well, Dan, run if you must, but don't run very far; and come back to me soon, for I want you very much." He was rather taken aback by this unexpected permission to play truant, and somehow it seemed to lessen his desire to go.

He did not understand why, but Mrs.Jo did, and, knowing the natural perversity of the human mind, counted on it to help her now.

She felt instinctively that the more the boy was restrained the more he would fret against it; but leave him free, and the mere sense of liberty would content him, joined to the knowledge that his presence was dear to those whom he loved best.

It was a little experiment, but it succeeded, for Dan stood silent a moment, unconsciously picking the fan to pieces and turning the matter over in his mind.