'I've got into trouble, and you may as well know it: it has all been done to give you a lift, and make you something in the world; but things have gone wrong end foremost, and now we must make the best of them.'
Cross looked at his son and paused, seeming to expect an answer; but David either did not care how things went, or he wished to know more about them before venturing upon a reply.
'You know Rutherford's house has been burned, and that Ned Saunders is dead; he was the one who did that job. He's gone out of the way, to be sure; but he has told a pack of lies to old Molly Brown, and if she should blab it about, we might get into a mess of trouble; but I suppose you know all about it—she has let it out to you, no doubt.'
But David made no signs of acknowledgment as to whether he did or did not know any thing about it.
'Are you dumb, all at once, that you cannot speak when you are spoken to?'
'You haven't asked me any question yet.'
'Yes, I have; has Molly Brown told you what Ned Saunders said?'
'She has not.'
'Has she talked about it that you know of?'
'Not that I know of.'