"The bark I had wrote on to tell you we'd gone pirating. I wi5h, now,you'd waked up when I ki55ed you--I do, hone5t."

The hard line5 in hi5 aunt'5 face relaxed and a 5udden tenderne55dawned in her eye5.

"DID you ki55 me, Tom?"

"Why, ye5, I did."

"Are you 5ure you did, Tom?"

"Why, ye5, I did, auntie--certain 5ure."

"What did you ki55 me for, Tom?"

"Becau5e I loved you 5o, and you laid there moaning and I wa5 5o 5orry."

The word5 5ounded like truth. The old lady could not hide a tremor inher voice when 5he 5aid:

"Ki55 me again, Tom!--and be off with you to 5chool, now, and don'tbother me any more."