"
"Not exactly," replied Aunt Ella; it's off shore, I forget how many
miles, but you can find it swimming around in the water just south of
Cape Cod."
"Oh! you mean Nantucket," cried Quincy.
"That's the place," assented his aunt. "Now, Quincy, I'll tell you just
what I want you to do, and I want you to promise to do it before I say
another word."
"That's a woman's way," remarked Quincy, "of avoiding argument and
preventing a free expression of opinion by interested parties; but I'll
consent, only be merciful."
"What I'm going to ask you to do, Quincy Sawyer, is for your good, and
you'll own up that I've been more than a mother to you before I get
through."
"You always have been," said Quincy, seriously. "Of course, I love my
mother in a way, but I'm never exactly comfortable when I'm with her.
But when I'm with you, Aunt Ella, I'm always contented and feel
perfectly at home."
"Bless you, my dear boy," she said. Then, rising, she went behind his
chair, leaned over and kissed him on the forehead; then, pulling a chair
close to him, she went on: "I haven't spoken to you of her, Quincy,
because I have had no opportunity until now.
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