"He was seen—several b'ys saw him," put in Samuel O'Brien.
"I—er—it was an accident," stammered Carl, quailing before the stern gaze of his parent. "The—er—the snowball slipped. It didn't hit Mammy Shrader hard, and she fell down of her own account, not because of the snowball."
"She says th' snowball knocked her down," said Samuel O'Brien. "If ye was my b'y I'd be afther givin' ye a good walloppin', so I would!" he added pointedly.
"I will go and see Mrs. Shrader," said Mr. Dudder. "Carl, you remain at home until I get back."
"Can't I go over and see Ham?"
"No."
"I promised him that I would be over."
"Well, you can't go. You study your lessons, unless you prefer to go with me to Mrs. Shrader's."
"I don't want to go to her house," said Carl.
Mr. Dudder lost no time in paying Mammy Shrader a visit, and then he called on Doctor Reed. When he came home again he was very angry.