She cast a quick glance at him, wrinkled her nose, and then turning away, said: "Come on in now, an' let yo vidults stop yo' mouth." During the meal, Potter talked with the spirit of such entertainment, that at times the old man sat in open-mouth heed of his words; and the old woman, forgetful of her snappishness, bestowed upon him many glances of not unkind attention. After dinner, as they sat under the trees in the yard, the old man, addressing John, said: "Ez it is Saturday evenin', you mout ez well knock off yo' plowin' fur the balunce uv the day. Me an' yo' aunt Liz is goin' over ter Frazier's ter stay all night, an' go frum thar ter meetin' ter-mor'. Thar's plenty ter eat cooked, an' ef yo' frien' wants ter stay here with you, all right." The boy's face lighted up with a smile, and turning to Potter, he said: "Wish you would stay." "I will," replied Potter. When old Jeff and his wife had gone, when the horses' hoofs, rattling over the flinty road, were no longer heard, John, awakening from a seeming reverie, arose, placed his hands with a sort of tender touch on the back of Potter's chair, and said: "I am powerful glad you air goin' to stay, for you air the first great big man that ever tuck the trouble ter talk much ter me. I aint never been cuffed erroun' none, but thar is a heap er ways to make er boy feel bad without cuffin' him erroun'. Not understandin' him is er putty sho way uv hurtin' his feelin's." "You are right, and I wonder that a boy of your surroundings should have such ripe conclusions--I mean that I am surprised at your good sense." "I hope I don't look like er fool." "Oh, no," Potter quickly rejoined; "there is at times about your face a glow of struggling inspiration--I mean that I like your face. If we were together very long I think I could teach you to understand my odd expressions." "It would be ez good ez understandin' uv er book, wouldn't it?" "Well, I could help you to understand books, and books would help you to understand me." John sat down, and Potter, glancing at him, saw that on his face there lay a strange expression--that through the soft color of sadness a ray of hope was shining. At length the boy said: "Uncle Jeff told me the other day that the best way fur er boy ter make er man outen hisse'f is ter git out an' hussle. He ken git ernuther boy ter plow for his vidults an' clothes. Let me go with you." "What, do you mean that you really want to go with me?" "Yas." "Let me lie down under this tree and sleep a little while, John. When I awake we will talk over the matter. The fact is I have been walking all day and am very tired." CHAPTER II.