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 At this appeal Robert could no longer contain himself, and laughed in his hearty way till his sides ached; then composing himself, he said, "I'll tell you how. I have to see Neighbor Watson almost every day about the new flood-gates, and, instead of meeting him at John's shop, I will come to the house and bring my maps and plans with me to spread out before him, and while we talk you can slip the note into my hand, or put it in my hat, or leave it under the flat stone by the lane gate. Only, I charge you, if you value your welfare and John's, find out all you can, and don't appear to be finding out anything; and what you hear report to us."

"I will; and now do let me go home, for I have no head to carry on a conversation even with the girls, and want a chance to think in quiet; and oh, I am so tired of standing!"

"No, don't go back. Let the girls take care of you, and mother will coddle you till you're rosy as an apple again. If I meet Neighbor Watson as John and I go back