"Oh! Don't you?" said the Squire. "I'll take care of that."
"Likely!" continued Bill defiantly. "To have the strap."
"Perhaps, if you behave well, and answer all I want to know," returned the Squire, "I may feel inclined to beg you off the strapping—though I must confess that you deserve it every bit."
Bill subsided and looked down, waiting in sullen silence to be questioned, whilst Maggie drew a little nearer, moving her eyes rapidly from him to the Squire with lively interest.
"Why did you run away?" commenced the Squire.
Maggie's eyes went back to Bill.
"'Cause he told me to," said Bill.
"He?" rejoined the Squire. "Who's he?"
"Him what I stole the egg for," answered Bill. "Dick Crozier, sir."
"Dick Crozier!" exclaimed Hal and his grandfather in a breath. "Mind you're not inventing lies," added the Squire. "Why, dear me," he continued half-aside, "I had fancied him a better lad. It seems incredible!"