"Well, Mr.John, I ran away, and--so it was best to get a new name." "Indeed! Of course, every one knows you must have run away--but no one cares." "Might say I was run away with--can't always hold a horse," he laughed aloud in a leisurely way.

"When he took me over the State-line, I didn't go back." "I see," said John laughing, as he rose and paid the barber.

The cracked mirror satisfied him that he was well shorn.
"You looks a heap older now you're shorn.

Makes old fellows look younger--ever notice that ?" "No." Then Josiah, of a sudden wisely cautious, said, "You won't tell Mrs.
Penhallow, nor no one, about me, what I said ?" "Of course not; but why my aunt, Mr.Josiah?
She, like my uncle, must know you ran away." When John first arrived the black barber's appearance so impressed the lad that he spoke to him as Mr.Josiah, and seeing later how much this pleased him continued in his quite courteous way to address him now and then as Mr.Josiah.The barber liked it.

He hesitated a moment before answering.
"You needn't talk about it if you don't want to," said John.
"Guess whole truth's better than half truth--nothin' makes folk curious like knowin' half.