Dick had not thought of the matter in that light, but he answered, without hesitation:
'Ole Tinribs, I expect.'
'Dickie!' cried Mrs. Haddon, reprovingly.
'Why, why, Dick?' queried the young man.
Oh, I dunno; on'y he seems that sort, don't he?' Dick had been subjected to a grave indignity at the hands of the superintendent, and was not in a frame of mind to form a just estimate of the character of that good man. He spoke with the cheerful irresponsibility of youth.
'I'm afraid you won't be much good to us, Copper-top, old man, if you rush at conclusions in that desperate way,' said Harry.
Mrs. Hardy shook an impressive forefinger at the boy.
'You will say nothing to anybody of our intentions, Richard.'
'No,' said Dick simply; but that word given to Mrs. Hardy was a sacred oath, steel-bound and clamped.