do n't say it 's you ! I 'd rather have it any of the other boys , '' cried Nat , in such a distressed tone that Dan looked pleased , and showed that he did , by turning round with a queer expression in his face , though he only answered , `` I wo n't say any thing about it . But do n't you fret , and we 'll pull through somehow , see if we do n't . '' Something in his face and manner gave Nat a new idea ; and he said , pressing his hands together , in the eagerness of his appeal , `` I think you know who did it . If you do , beg him to tell , Dan . It 's so hard to have 'em all hate me for nothing . I do n't think I can bear it much longer . If I had any place to go to , I 'd run away , though I love Plumfield dearly ; but I 'm not brave and big like you , so I must stay and wait till some one shows them that I have n't lied . '' As he spoke , Nat looked so broken and despairing , that Dan could not bear it , and , muttered huskily , `` You wo n't wait long , '' and he walked rapidly away , and was seen no more for hours . `` What is the matter with Dan ? '' asked the boys of one another several times during the Sunday that followed a week which seemed as if it would never end . Dan was often moody , but that day he was so sober and silent that no one could get any thing out of him . When they walked he strayed away from the rest , and came home late . He took no part in the evening conversation , but sat in the shadow , so busy with his own thoughts that he scarcely seemed to hear what was going on . When Mrs. Jo showed him an unusually good report in the Conscience Book , he looked at it without a smile , and said , wistfully , `` You think I am getting on , do n't you ? '' `` Excellently , Dan ! and I am so pleased , because I always thought you only needed a little help to make you a boy to be proud of . '' He looked up at her with a strange expression in his black eyes an expression of mingled pride and love and sorrow which she could not understand then but remembered afterward . `` I 'm afraid you 'll be disappointed , but I do try , '' he said , shutting the book with no sign of pleasure in the page that he usually liked so much to read over and talk about . `` Are you sick , dear ? ''
asked Mrs. XXXXX , with her hand on his shoulder .
Dan Jo Nat Plumfield day evening help hours one week