After a few more words, the constable left the room.
"Is he going to do anything to me?" asked poor Edmund.
"No, my boy. He sees you have been punished quite enough by the consequences of your mischief. But you'll have to tell Nurse. Better go over to the Hall now and find her, and get it over; and then come back to me. I shan't forsake you, you may be sure!"
Edmund gasped out:
"Must I go to Nurse? Won't you tell her for me?"
"No, I won't. For you must show your pluck, and be willing to own yourself the culprit. Cut along!"
Edmund left the room without a word. He seized his cap from the hall peg, and raced along the road, arriving at the Hall hot and breathless. It was some time before he could find Nurse. She and Purling were together in his pantry; she had found that there was literally nothing saved from the nurseries, and now she and Purling were talking together, discussing all that had passed. When she saw Edmund, she turned upon him angrily:
"And you're responsible for it all, Master Edmund. What are you doing here?"
"I've come to tell you that I did it," said Edmund, in quavering tones. "You made me angry, and I stuffed some lighted paper under the door to make the fireworks go off!"
Nurse gave an exclamation of horror.