`` Where have you been , Dan ? '' she asked , beginning to get out some bandages . `` I ran off more 'n a month ago . Page was good enough , but too strict . I did n't like it , so I cut away down the river with a man who was going in his boat . That 's why they could n't tell where I 'd gone . When I left the man , I worked for a couple of weeks with a farmer , but I thrashed his boy , and then the old man thrashed me , and I ran off again and walked here . '' `` All the way ? '' `` Yes , the man did n't pay me , and I would n't ask for it . Took it out in beating the boy , '' and Dan laughed , yet looked ashamed , as he glanced at his ragged clothes and dirty hands . `` How did you live ? It was a long , long tramp for a boy like you . '' `` Oh , I got on well enough , till I hurt my foot . Folks gave me things to eat , and I slept in barns and tramped by day . I got lost trying to make a short cut , or I 'd have been here sooner . '' `` But if you did not mean to come in and stay with us , what were you going to do ? '' `` I thought I 'd like to see Teddy again , and you ; and then I was going back to my old work in the city , only I was so tired I went to sleep on the hay . I 'd have been gone in the morning , if you had n't found me . '' `` Are you sorry I did ? '' and Mrs. Jo looked at him with a half merry , half reproachful look , as she knelt down to look at his wounded foot .
The color came up into XXXXX 's face , and he kept his eyes fixed on his plate , as he said very low , `` No , ma'am , I 'm glad , I wanted to stay , but I was afraid you -- '' He did not finish , for Mrs. Bhaer interrupted him by an exclamation of pity , as she saw his foot , for it was seriously hurt .
Dan Folks Jo Teddy bandages cut day left morning weeks