to study, and had persuaded them to let him and Stephen go and live
with their uncle at the west, who had no boys of his own, and wanted
somebody to help him to manage his immense farm. Such, in brief, was
Joseph's story.

On their return route, the boys were careful to avoid passing by the
cellar from which Joseph had stolen the nuts. With all his pluck and
bravery, he did not care about meeting the man whose displeasure he had
excited a few hours before.

It was twelve o'clock before the boys reached the hotel. Oscar, during
the latter part of the walk, had been unusually silent. He was
thinking how he should manage to conceal his truancy, but he could not
hit upon any satisfactory plan. The more he reflected upon the matter,
the more he was troubled and perplexed about it. He might possibly
hide his mis-spent forenoon from his parents, but how should he explain
his absence to his teachers? He could not tell. He decided, however,
to see his brothers before they should get home from school, and, if
they had noticed his absence, to prevail upon them to say nothing about
it.

"You 'll be back again after dinner, Oscar?" said Alfred, as his friend
started for home.

"Yes," replied Oscar, with some hesitation; "I 'll see you before
school-time."

"School-time? You don't intend to go to school this afternoon, do
you?" inquired Alfred.