A shriek made him
look round; little David stood sobbing and crying piteously.
"Davie! what, Davie! What is it, my man? Where are you hurt!"
"No, no! I'm not hurt! Catch Hal, Papa."
"No, David. I do not play with boys that act like Henry."
"Speak to him, Papa; oh, speak!"
"I shall, before I go," said the Captain gravely.
"Now, now! Papa. Oh, do! I did want him to be punished, but not
like this."
"No, David. If he can expect to play with me, and be treated like
the others, he is not in the state to receive forgiveness. There,
have done crying; let us go on with the game."
But David could not go on playing; he was too unhappy. Not to be
forgiven, even if punished, seemed to him too dreadful to happen to
anyone; and he thought that he had brought it all on Henry by his
letter of accusation. Tardily and dolefully he crept into the house;
and Miss Fosbrook met him, looking so woe-begone, that she too
thought he had hurt himself. She took him, dirt and all, on her lap;
and there he sobbed out that Papa wouldn't speak to Hal, and it was
very dreadful; and he wished there were no such things as pigs, or
money, or secrets; they only made people miserable!
"Dear Davie, they only make people miserable when they care too much
about them.
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