So I watched to catch her when she was coming up to him,
and I saw Mary bring him up some mince veal, and the last bit of the
gooseberry pie; and then, very soon, he bolted right downstairs. I
didn't think he could have had time to eat the pie; and I was going
to see if there was a bit left, when I saw Bessie coming up, and I
whipped up again."
"Then nobody went into the room between Henry and Bessie?"
"No; there wasn't any time."
The whole room was quite silent. There was no sound but a quick
short breathing from the Captain: but he had rested his brow upon
his hand, and his face could not be seen. It was as if something
terrible had flashed upon him, and he was struggling with the first
shock, and striving to deal with it. If they had seen him in a
tempest, with his ship driving to pieces on a rock, he would not have
been thus shaken and dismayed. However, by the time he looked up
again, he had brought his face back to its resolute firmness, and he
spoke in a clear, stern, startling voice, that made all the children
quake, and some catch hold of each other's hands: "Henry! tell me
what you have done with your theft!"
Miserable Henry! He did not try to deny it any longer; but burst out
into a loud sobbing cry, "O Papa! Papa! I meant to have put it back
again! I couldn't help it!"
"Tell me what you have done with it!" repeated the Captain.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233