“After—after I did—that?”

“What?”

“You know—to Billy?”

“Oh, yes, Dick—yes! I know you didn’t mean to hurt Billy.”

“It didn’t hurt him, Felicia.”

“But it frightened him.”

“I couldn’t help it,” the boy declared. “He was standing there asleep. I found the old tin can, and I thought what fun it would be to hitch it to his tail. Then I got a string, tied it to the pail, made a loop, and slipped it onto Billy’s tail.”

“It’s a wonder Billy didn’t kick you.”

“He would if anybody else had tried the trick, but I don’t suppose he thought I’d do such a thing. I betrayed Billy’s confidence in me.”

“You won’t do it again, will you, Dick?”