"N-o-o," replied Cephas, somewhat doubtfully; he hesitated to surrender the advantage that he saw he had. "Yes, you are," said Nan, "and I think it is very unkind of you. I am sorry you misunderstood me; if you only knew how I really feel, and how much trouble I have, you would be sorry instead of angry." "I'm the one to blame," said Cephas penitently. "Gabriel says you dislike him, and I thought he was only guessing. But he knew better than I did. I had no business to bother you." Nan caught her breath. "Did Gabriel say I disliked him?" "He didn't say that word," replied Cephas. "I think he said you detested him, and I told him he didn't know what he was talking about. But he did; he knew a great deal better than I did, because I didn't really know until just now." "But, Cephas!" cried Nan; "what could have put such an idea in his head?" Cephas's mother was now busy about the house. "I didn't know then, but I know now," remarked the boy stolidly. "Don't be unkind, Cephas. If you knew me better, you'd be sorry for me. You and Gabriel are terribly mistaken. I'm very fond of both of you." "Oh, _I_ don't count in this game," Cephas declared. "Oh, yes, you do," said Nan. "You are one of my dearest friends, and so is Gabriel." "All right," said Cephas. "If you treat all your dearest friends as you do Gabriel, I'm very sorry for them." "Cephas, if you tell Gabriel what I said while Eugenia Claiborne was standing there, all ears, I'll never forgive you." Nan was at her wit's end. "Tell him that!" cried Cephas; "why, I wouldn't tell him that, not for all the world. I'll tell him nothing." "Please, Cephas," said Nan. "Tell him"--she paused, and threw her hair away from her pale face--"tell him that if he doesn't come home soon, I shall die!" Then her face turned from pale to red, and she laughed loudly. "Well, I certainly sha'n't tell him that," said Cephas. "I didn't think you would," said Nan. "You are a nice little boy, and I am going to kiss you good-bye. If you don't have something sweet to tell me when you come back, I'll think you detest me--wasn't that Gabriel's word? Poor Gabriel! he's in prison, and here we are joking about him." "I'm not joking about him!" exclaimed Cephas. "Just as much as I am," said Nan; and then she leaned over and kissed Cephas's freckled face, leaving it very red after the operation. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN _Mr. Sanders Visits Some of His Old Friends_