"Please, sir-" stammered forth the boy, "you said as how you would try to get me off."
Mrs. Curtis could hardly refrain from an exclamation of pleasure, as she dropped her work on her knee.
"I will keep my promise to an honest, truthful boy, who, having done a wrong and a foolish action, is going to make what amends are in his power."
Stephen White looked ready to cry, and put the back of his hand up to his face.
"Why did you break the glass?" asked the vicar, seeing that in this case silence was clearly consent.
"I thought as how it would give father a job," faintly stuttered forth the boy.
"And how came you to have the ball, the leaden ball, that was found in the hothouse?"
"I picked it up on the road yesterday," said Stephen, "and put it in my pocket along with the stones. I didn't think, indeed I didn't, of getting the sailor into trouble."
"I do not doubt you, my boy," cried the vicar.
Then, turning to his wife, he added, "Eliza, my love, just write down his words; you and I will sign the paper as witnesses, and I'll carry it myself to Sir Lacy Bar-ton's this very night."