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andnomorepowerfulrestraintcouldhavebeenimposeduponhimthantheinnocentcompanionconfidedtohiscare。HefoundcouragenowtotellMrs。
JooftheplanalreadymadewithDemi，andshewasgladthatthefirststephadbeensonaturallytaken。EverythingseemedtobeworkingwellforDan，andsherejoicedoverhim，becauseithadseemedahardtask，yet，workingonwithafirmbeliefinthepossibilityofreformationinfarolderandworsesubjectsthanhe，therehadcomethisquickandhopefulchangetoencourageher。Hefeltthathehadfriendsnowandaplaceintheworld，somethingtoliveandworkfor，and，thoughhesaidlittle，allthatwasbestandbravestinacharactermadeoldbyahardexperiencerespondedtotheloveandfaithbestowedonhim，andDan’ssalvationwasassured。
TheirquiettalkwasinterruptedbyashoutofdelightfromTeddy，who，tothesurpriseofeveryone，didactuallycatchatroutwherenotrouthadbeenseenforyears。HewassoenchantedwithhissplendidsuccessthatheinsistedonshowinghisprizetothefamilybeforeAsiacookeditforsupper；sothethreedescendedandwenthappilyawaytogether，allsatisfiedwiththeworkofthathalfhour。
Nedwasthenextvisitortothetree，butheonlymadeashortstay，sittingthereathiseasewhileDickandDollycaughtapailfulofgrasshoppersandcricketsforhim。HewantedtoplayajokeonTommy，andintendedtotuckupafewdozenofthelivelycreaturesinhisbed，sothatwhenBangsgotinhewouldspeedilytumbleoutagain，andpassaportionofthenightinchasing“hopper-grasses“roundtheroom。Thehuntwassoonover，andhavingpaidthehunterswithafewpeppermintsapieceNedretiredtomakeTommy’sbed。
Foranhourtheoldwillowsighedandsungtoitself，talkedwiththebrook，andwatchedthelengtheningshadowsasthesunwentdown。Thefirstrosycolorwastouchingitsgracefulbrancheswhenaboycamestealinguptheavenue，acrossthelawn，and，spyingBillybythebrook-side，wenttohim，saying，inamysterioustone，；
“GoandtellMr。BhaerIwanttoseehimdownhere，please。Don’tletanyonehear。“
Billynoddedandranoff，whiletheboyswunghimselfupintothetree，andsattherelookinganxious，yetevidentlyfeelingthecharmoftheplaceandhour。Infiveminutes，Mr。Bhaerappeared，and，steppinguponthefence，leanedintothenest，saying，kindly，；
“Iamgladtoseeyou，Jack；butwhynotcomeinandmeetusallatonce？“
“Iwantedtoseeyoufirst，please，sir。Unclemademecomeback。I
knowIdon’tdeserveanything，butIhopethefellowswon’tbeharduponme。“
PoorJackdidnotgetonverywell，butitwasevidentthathewassorryandashamed，andwantedtobereceivedaseasilyaspossible；forhisUnclehadthrashedhimwellandscoldedhimsoundlyforfollowingtheexamplehehimselfset。Jackhadbeggednottobesentback，buttheschoolwascheap，andMr。Fordinsisted，sotheboyreturnedasquietlyaspossible，andtookrefugebehindMr。Bhaer。
“Ihopenot，butIcan’tanswerforthem，thoughIwillseethattheyarenotunjust。Ithink，asDanandNathavesufferedsomuch，beinginnocent，youshouldsuffersomething，beingguilty。Don’tyou？“askedMr。Bhaer，pityingJack，yetfeelinghedeservedpunishmentforafaultwhichhadsolittleexcuse。
“Isupposeso，butIsentTommy’smoneyback，andIsaidIwassorry，isn’tthatenough？“saidJack，rathersullenly；fortheboywhocoulddosomeanathingwasnotbraveenoughtobeartheconsequenceswell。
“No；Ithinkyoushouldaskpardonofallthreeboys，openlyandhonestly。
Youcannotexpectthemtorespectandtrustyouforatime，butyoucanlivedownthisdisgraceifyoutry，andIwillhelpyou。Stealingandlyingaredetestablesins，andIhopethiswillbealessontoyou。Iamgladyouareashamed，itisagoodsign；bearitpatiently，anddoyourbesttoearnabetterreputation。“
“I’llhaveanauction，andselloffallmygoodsdirtcheap，“saidJack，showinghisrepentanceinthemostcharacteristicway。
“Ithinkitwouldbebettertogivethemaway，andbeginonanewfoundation。Take’Honestyisthebestpolicy’foryourmotto，andliveuptoitinact，andword，andthought，andthoughyoudon’tmakeacentofmoneythis
