"Well, in this case who started the trouble?" asked the judge.
Mrs. Snawdor clutched at Nance, but it was too late.
"I did," she announced.
The judge looked puzzled.
"Why, I thought you said the choir boys began it by sitting on the fence and making faces and calling names."
"Shucks," said Nance, contemptuously, "we kin beat 'em makin' faces an' callin' names."
"Well, how did you start the fight?"
"That there big boy dared me to step in the concrete. Didn't you now?"
Mac stood looking straight ahead of him and refused to acknowledge her presence.
"It strikes me," said the judge, "that you choir boys could be better employed than in teasing and provoking the children in the alley. What do you think, Mac?"