"He did give me forty dollars," he shouted. "But he owed it to me before he owed it to the school-board, for all the things I bought him already. A couple of suits and hats and candy and such a little velocipede and peanuts, and I took him in the Fair; and then he wasn't thankful. He wouldn't be adopted. He—"
"So he paid you the forty dollars?"
"Yes. But it was mine." Then Uncle Daniel read in the faces of those about him the first frank estimate of his character which it had ever been his misfortune to see.
"I think I will go home," he said again.
"Not yet," replied the judge grimly. He looked at William. "Do you want to prosecute this gentleman?"
"No," answered William.
The judge saw that his lips were trembling.
"The court is adjourned," he said.
Then he changed his mind about lingering to talk to William. He opened the door into the ante-room, and shook hands with them all.