upposed it would be no
difficult task to frighten and silence Aunt Lucy. The latter had always
been so yielding in all matters relating to herself, that this intrepid
championship of Paul's interests was unlooked for. The tables were
completely turned. Pale with rage, and a mortified sense of having been
foiled with her own weapons, Mrs. Mudge left the room.

Meanwhile her husband milked the cows, and was now occupied in
performing certain other duties that could not be postponed, being
resolved, immediately after breakfast was over, to harness up and pursue
the runaway.

"Well, did you get anything out of the old lady?" he inquired, as he
came from the barn with the full milk-pails.

"She said she knew beforehand that he was going."

"Eh!" said Mr. Mudge, pricking up his ears, "did she say where?"

"No, and she won't. She knit him a pair of stockings to help him off,
and doesn't pretend to deny it. She's taken a wonderful fancy to the
young scamp, and has been as obstinate as could be ever since he has
been here."

"If I get him back," said Mr. Mudge, "he shall have a good flogging, if
I am able to give him one, and she shall be present to see it."

"That's right," said Mrs. Mudge, approvingly, "when are you going to set
out after him?"

"Right after breakfast. So be spry, and get it ready as soon as you
can."

Under the stimulus of this inspiring motive, Mrs. Mudge bustled about
with new energy, and before many minutes the meal was in readiness.
It did not take long to dispatch it. Immediately afterwards, Mr. Mudge
harnessed up, as he had determined, and started off in pursuit of our
hero.

In the meantime the two boys had walked leisurely along, conversing on
various subjects.

"When you get to the city, Paul," said John, "I shall want to hear from
you. Will you write to me?"

Paul promised readily.

"You can direct to John Burges, Burrville. The postmaster knows me, and
I shall be sure to get it."

"I wish you were going with me," said Paul.

"Sometimes when I think that I am all alone it discourages me. It would
be so much pleasanter to have some one with me."

"I shall come sometime," said John, "when I am a little older. I heard
father say something the other day about my going into a store in the
city. So we may meet again."

"I hope we shall."

They were just turning a bend of the road, when Paul chanced to look
backward. About a quarter of a mile back he descried a horse and wagon
w