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my boy why I have kept him from his motherā€™s family all these years. If this packet is opened by him at thirty years of age, he will read this letter, and I hope will forgive a father who feared to lose his boy entirely, so took this drastic course to keep him to himself. If it is opened by strangers, because of his death, I request that his motherā€™s people in Boston be notified at once, and the enclosed package of papers be given, intact, into their hands.

ā€œJohn Kent.ā€

Jimmy was pale and shaken when he looked up to meet John Pendletonā€™s eyes.

ā€œAm Iā ā€”the lostā ā€”Jamie?ā€ he faltered.

ā€œThat letter says you have documents there to prove it,ā€ nodded the other.

ā€œMrs. Carewā€™s nephew?ā€

ā€œOf course.ā€

ā€œBut, whyā ā€”whatā ā€”I canā€™t realize it!ā€ There was a momentā€™s pause before into Jimmyā€™s face flashed a new joy. ā€œThen, surely now I know who I am! I can tellā ā€”Mrs. Chilton something of my people.ā€

ā€œI should say you could,ā€ retorted John Pendleton, dryly. ā€œThe Boston Wetherbys can trace straight back to the crusades, and I donā€™t know but to the year one. That ought to satisfy her. As for your fatherā ā€”he came of good stock, too, Mrs. Carew told me, though he was rather eccentric, and not pleasing to the family, as you know, of course.ā€

ā€œYes. Poor dad! And what a life he must have lived with me all those yearsā ā€”always dreading pursuit. I can understandā ā€”lots of things, now, that used to puzzle me. A woman called me ā€˜Jamie,ā€™ once. Jove! how angry he was! I know now why he hurried me away that night without even waiting for supper. Poor dad! It was right after that he was taken sick. He couldnā€™t use his hands or his feet, and very soon he couldnā€™t talk straight. Something ailed his speech. I remember when he died he was trying to tell me something about this packet. I believe now he was telling me to open it, and go to my motherā€™s people; but I thought then he was just telling me to keep it safe. So thatā€™s what I promised him. But it didnā€™t comfort him any. It only seemed to worry him more. You see, I didnā€™t understand. Poor dad!ā€

ā€œSuppose we take a look at these papers,ā€ suggested John Pendleton. ā€œBesides, thereā€™s a letter from your father to you, I understand. Donā€™t you want to read it?ā€

ā€œYes, of course. And thenā ā€”ā€ the young fellow laughed shamefacedly and glanced at the clockā ā€”ā€œI was wondering just how soon I could go backā ā€”to Pollyanna.ā€

A thoughtful frown came to John Pendletonā€™s face. He glanced at Jimmy, hesitated, then spoke.

ā€œI know you want to see Pollyanna, lad, and I donā€™t blame you; but it strikes me that, under the circumstances, you should go first toā ā€”Mrs. Carew, and take these.ā€ He tapped the papers before him.

Jimmy drew his brows together and pondered.

ā€œAll right, sir, I will.ā€ he agreed resignedly.

ā€œAnd if you donā€™t mind, Iā€™d like to go with you,ā€ further suggested John Pendleton, a little diffidently.

ā€œIā ā€”I have a little matter of my own that Iā€™d like to seeā ā€”your aunt about. Suppose we go down today on the three oā€™clock?ā€

ā€œGood! We will, sir. Gorry! And so Iā€™m Jamie! I canā€™t grasp it yet!ā€ exclaimed the young man, springing to his feet, and restlessly moving about the room. ā€œI wonder, now,ā€ he stopped, and colored boyishly, ā€œdo you thinkā ā€”Aunt Ruthā ā€”will mindā ā€”very much?ā€

John Pendleton shook his head. A hint of the old somberness came into his eyes.

ā€œHardly, my boy. Butā ā€”Iā€™m thinking of myself. How about it? When youā€™re her boy, where am I coming in?ā€

ā€œYou! Do you think anything could put you one side?ā€ scoffed Jimmy, fervently. ā€œYou neednā€™t worry about that. And she wonā€™t mind. She has Jamie, you know, andā ā€”ā€ He stopped short, a dawning dismay in his eyes. ā€œBy George! Uncle John, I forgotā ā€”Jamie. This is going to be tough onā ā€”Jamie!ā€

ā€œYes, Iā€™d thought of that. Still, heā€™s legally adopted, isnā€™t he?ā€

ā€œOh, yes; it isnā€™t that. Itā€™s the fact that he isnā€™t the real Jamie himselfā ā€”and he with his two poor useless legs! Why, Uncle John, itā€™ll just about kill him. Iā€™ve heard him talk. I know. Besides, Pollyanna and Mrs. Carew both have told me how he feels, how sure he is, and how happy he is. Great Scott! I canā€™t take away from him thisā ā€”But what can I do?ā€

ā€œI donā€™t know, my boy. I donā€™t see as thereā€™s anything you can do, but what you are doing.ā€

There was a long silence. Jimmy had resumed his nervous pacing up and down the room. Suddenly he wheeled, his face alight.

ā€œThere is a way, and Iā€™ll do it. I know Mrs. Carew will agree. We wonā€™t tell! We wonā€™t tell anybody but Mrs. Carew herself, andā ā€”and Pollyanna and her aunt. Iā€™ll have to tell them,ā€ he added defensively.

ā€œYou certainly will, my boy. As for the restā ā€”ā€ John Pendleton paused doubtfully.

ā€œItā€™s nobodyā€™s business.ā€

ā€œBut, remember, you are making quite a sacrificeā ā€”in several ways. I want you to weigh it well.ā€

ā€œWeigh it? I have weighed it, and thereā€™s nothing in itā ā€”with Jamie on the other side of the scales, sir. I just couldnā€™t do it. Thatā€™s all.ā€

ā€œI donā€™t blame you, and I think youā€™re right,ā€ declared John Pendleton heartily. ā€œFurthermore, I believe Mrs. Carew will agree with you, particularly as sheā€™ll know now that the real Jamie is found at last.ā€

ā€œYou know sheā€™s always said sheā€™d seen me somewhere,ā€ chuckled Jimmy. ā€œNow how soon does that train go? Iā€™m ready.ā€

ā€œWell, Iā€™m not,ā€ laughed John Pendleton. ā€œLuckily for me it doesnā€™t go for some hours yet, anyhow,ā€ he finished, as he got to his feet and left the room.

XXXII A New Aladdin

Whatever were John Pendletonā€™s preparations for departureā ā€”and they were both varied and hurriedā ā€”they were done in the open, with two exceptions. The exceptions were two letters, one addressed to Pollyanna, and one to Mrs. Polly Chilton. These letters, together with careful and minute instructions, were given into the hands of Susan, his housekeeper, to be delivered after they should be gone. But

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