"
Here Joe paused, again covered his face, and groaned most bitterly.
"The purse of gold is quite safe with Miss Smith in Paris," said
Cecile, in a tone of surprise. "Dear Joe, I don't quite understand
you. Those were dreadful days, but they are over. You will soon see
your old mother again. All the dreadful days are over, Joe dear."
"Ah! Missie, but that's jest wot they ain't. But I likes to hear you
say 'dear Joe' once again, for soon, when you know all, you'll hate
me."
"Then may I kiss you before I know all? and I don't think I _could_
hate you, Jography."
"Ah! yes," said Joe, receiving the little kiss with almost apathy,
"you has a werry tender heart, Missie Cecile, you always seems to me
like an angel, but even you'll hate Joe Barnes arter you know all.
Well, yesterday, you remember how we lost little Maurice. We missed
him when we woke in the morning. We thought as he had strayed in the
forest, and would soon be back, and you went one way to look for him,
and I went another. I had not gone a hundred yards when jest behind
our hut I saw Anton! Yes, Missie, our old enemy Anton had come back
again.
"'Anton' I said; and then, Missie, oh! my dear, dear little Missie
Cecile, I must jest tell it in few words. He said as he had stole
little Maurice, that he had him safe, and that we should never, never
get him back unless I give him--Anton--the purse of gold. I said as I
had not it--that neither of us had it. But he drew out o' me about
the little bit o' paper and he said as the paper 'ud do as well as
the purse.
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