Perplexities. 69

 

my dear,” said Mrs. Hardy; but she could get

no reply.

“What’s the matter?” said Johnnie, as they
walked off to school. “Is it aunt’s being
away that puts you out, Stephen?”

SEN?

The tone was so very unpromising, that
John shrugged his shoulders and took to
whistling.

Oh! how could he be so jolly if Stephen
trembled at the idea. The lessons were all
hard that day; the teacher scolded him, and
he did try to do better, but his head was full
of nothing but his dread.

At last a thought came to him ; perhaps it
was Ned’s doing. He had only asked Johnnie
to take care of the knife and not tell, and
Johnnie did not know whose it was. Or
perhaps it was another knife after all.

He went straight up to Ned when they
came out of school, and said in a low,
determined way—

“Ned, do you know anything about Mr.
Willis’ knife?”

Ned started at first, and turned very red;
then, recovering himself, he said rudely—

“What are you prying about now ?”

Stephen repeated his question.