I know you
think that I stole your apricots, don't you?"
Ned did not immediately reply. His good-nature made him unwilling to own
that he _did_ suspect Tom; and he could not tell an untruth, by saying
that he did not suspect him.
"Well," continued Tom, "I am sure you must; and I do not wonder at it.
Now the truth is, that when you told me about your apricots, I thought
to myself that I would come when it was dusk, and take two or three of
them just to eat, thinking that you would not miss such a small number.
But I did not like to go by myself; so I asked Fred Morris if he would
go with me. He said, 'O yes; he would go anywhere, or do anything, to
get some apricots.' He did not know of your tree, he added; or he should
have paid it a visit before. I began to be sorry I had told him, and
made him promise that he would not take more than three. When it got
dark, and we were set out, I felt that I was doing very wrong. I wished
to turn back; but Fred would not let me. He said I need not take any
fruit myself if I wanted to back out; but that if I did not go with him
to show him the tree, he would beat me within an inch of my life. So we
came to the wicket together; it was fastened, and we clambered over the
hedge.
Pages:
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30