After breakfast I asked Constance to go with me to see Uncle Job, and her father assenting, we soon reached the jail where he was confined. It was a forlorn-looking place, built of rough logs, strips of wood and plaster filling the intervening spaces. Gaining admission, we found Uncle Job in a cell apart, and so cold and cheerless of aspect that we could scarce restrain our tears at the sight of it. He, not expecting us, was quite upset, but recovering himself, asked us to sit down on the rude bench that half-filled the place and answered for both seat and bed.
"Your faces are like a glimpse of heaven," he exclaimed, putting his arms about us with tender affection.
To this we could make no reply, and for a long time sat bolt upright, holding his hands and gazing at the blank wall before us. At last, mustering some courage, I said:
"I would have been here before, uncle, but have been living at the Blakes', and it was only yesterday that he came home and told us of your trouble."
"Then that is where you have been?" he asked, surprised at what I said.
"They are kind people, and had I known you were there, I should not have worried about you."
"It was foolish in me to run away, and I'm ashamed of myself; and now more than ever," I answered, unable to say more.
"You need not have feared Moth; and now he is under bonds not to molest you, so there will be no further trouble."
"I am glad of that, though I don't care for him any more. He is a scoundrel and sneak, and I'm going to give him a thrashing when I see him," I answered, and meaning to do as I said.
"That is foolish talk, Gilbert. You must not get into any trouble with him. He is a man to fear and avoid. Wait; time will bring everything out right."
"Yes, we hope so; but Moth deserves a beating just the same for mixing up so much in our affairs," I answered.
"Nothing he attempts against us will succeed," Uncle Job answered, and believing what he said. For he was in all things a very religious man, and did not think it possible that the innocent could suffer wrong.
"What chance have you, Uncle Job, anyway, for we are all worried to death?" I exclaimed at last, my emotion overcoming me.
"The chance an innocent man always has"; saying which he looked into my eyes, as if to read there my inmost thoughts concerning him.