Mr. Gordon, although as much shocked at this outburst as George had been, was not disposed to treat the matter quite as he had done.
That both of us were guilty of wrong temper there could be no doubt, but he saw also that there was still something to be cleared up; and instead of quenching the subject by telling us we had both behaved badly, and deserved to be unhappy, as is the self-indulgent custom of many grown-up people in the matter of children's quarrels, he forbade any further recrimination, and after dinner was over, calmly and quietly inquired into every particular of our story, with as much care as if he had been on his magistrate's bench in court, and this were a case of great importance; first questioning Aleck, and then myself.
As my examination drew to a close, however, Aleck once again burst in with the determined assertion that I knew more than I had said.
My mother, who was present, was indignant at his persistency, saying that in all my life I had never told a lie, and it was unpardonable thus to speak of me; whilst my father simply said, "Since you are not able to conduct yourself with propriety, Aleck, you must go to bed." And my cousin left the room accordingly, whilst I was subjected to the moral torture of a further cross-examination; from which, however, strong in the distinct assertion that I had not touched either rope or boat, I came off clear.
One step, indeed, my father gained, in the course of his inquiry, towards the truth. In answer to one of his questions, I used the pronoun we.
"Who's we?" asked my father, quickly.
"Frisk and I, papa."
"Then you had Frisk with you, and I suppose as playful as usual?"
"Yes, papa."
"Did Frisk get at the ship or the rope, do you think?"