“But Rollin, when I spoke to you of the handkerchief and the twelve acorns you blushed, and said you had reason to blush. I see nothing in this kind action you did to cause a blush.”
“I blushed,” said Mr. Billings, “to think of the lie I was going to tell Theodora Merrill Corwin—”
“I thought you said her name was Theodora Mitchell Corwin,” said Mrs. Billings.
“Mitchell or Merill,” said Mr. Billings. “I cannot remember exactly which.”
For several minutes Mrs. Billings was silent. Occasionally she would open her mouth as if to ask a question, but each time she closed it again without speaking. Mr. Billings sat regarding his wife with what, in a man of less clear conscience, might be called anxiety. At length Mrs. Billings put her sewing into her sewing-basket and arose.
“Rollin,” she said, “I have enjoyed hearing you tell your experiences greatly. I can say but one thing: Never in your life have you deceived me. And you have not deceived me now.”
For half an hour after this Mr. Billings sat alone, thinking.
III. OUR FIRST BURGLAR
When our new suburban house was completed I took Sarah out to see it, and she liked it all but the stairs.