Mr. Winslow--Jed, I mean--you have done so much
for us already; will you do one thing more?"
Jed's answer was given with no trace of his customary hesitation.
"Yes," he said.
"This is really for me, perhaps, more than for Charles--or at least
as much."
Again there was no hesitation in the Winslow reply.
"That won't make it any harder," he observed, gravely.
"Thank you. It is just this: I have decided not to tell my brother
that I have told you of his--his trouble, of his having been--where
he has been, or anything about it. He knows I have not told
Captain Hunniwell; I'm sure he will take it for granted that I have
told no one. I think it will be so much easier for the poor boy if
he can come here to Orham and think that no one knows. And no one
does know but you. You understand, don't you?" she added, earnestly.
He looked a little troubled, but he nodded.
"Yes," he said, slowly. "I understand, I cal'late."
"I'm sure you do. Of course, if he should ask me point-blank if I
had told any one, I should answer truthfully, tell him that I had
told you and explain why I did it. And some day I shall tell him
whether he asks or not. But when he first comes here I want him to
be--to be--well, as nearly happy as is possible under the
circumstances. I want him to meet the people here without the
feeling that they know he has been--a convict, any of them.
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