“Yes, I would,” said Andy, with emotion.  “I love the life here.”

“Very well, go back to Fairview just as you have planned.  Arrange your affairs just as a clear conscience dictates to you.  If fate leads you back here, come to me directly.  I will speak to the manager and ask him to take you on with the show.”

Tears of longing and gratefulness came to Andy’s eyes.  He could not stop them.

“You are good, kind people,” he said in a muffled tone.  “If I never see you again I shall never forget you.”

Stella Starr kissed Andy on the cheek in a motherly way.  Marco followed the boy outside.  He thumped him on the back with the farewell words, uttered with emphasis: 

“Cut for it, kid.  Take my advice—­it’s good.  You’ve got the making of a first-class ringer in you.  Don’t waste your ability in that humdrum town of yours.”

Andy started for Fairview in a daze.  So much had happened since morning that he could recall it all only in a series of long mental pictures.  The kindness and suggestions of his new-found friends kept him thinking deeply.

It was nearly dusk when Andy entered Fairview.  He steered clear of old comrades and familiar haunts.  When he reached home it was by way of the rear fence.

A light shone in the little kitchen.  His aunt was bustling about in a brisk, jumpy way that told Andy she was full of excitement and bottled-up wrath.

“Here goes, anyway,” he said finally, vaulting the fence and reaching the woodshed.

Andy took up a good armful of wood, marched right up to the back steps and through the open doorway.  He placed his load behind the kitchen stove.

“You graceless wretch!” were Miss Lavinia’s first words.

She had a cooking fork in her hand and with it she jabbed the air viciously.

“Go up stairs instantly,” she commanded next.

“I’m not sleepy, and I’m hungry,” said Andy respectfully enough, but firmly.

He walked over to the set table and picked up two biscuits from a plate.

“Put those down, you put those down!” screamed Miss Lavinia.  “Will you mind me?”

Andy pocketed the biscuits.  He was taking wise precautions in view of past experiences with his termagant relative.

The boy stood his ground, and his aunt stamped her foot.  Then she reached behind the stove and took up a stick used as a carpet beater.  Armed with this she advanced threateningly upon Andy.

“Don’t strike me, Aunt Lavinia,” said Andy quickly.  “I am getting too big for that.  I won’t stand it!”

“You scamp! you disgrace!” shouted his irate relative, still advancing upon him.

She beat at Andy, who snatched the stick from her hand, broke it in two and threw it out through the open doorway.

“I will go to my room if you insist upon it,” said Andy now.  “I don’t see the need of treating me like a dog, though.”