“And that means very severe punishment,” said West. “Well, were you doing it?”
“Was I? Oh, for shame, West! How could you think such a thing possible? My dear fellow, I couldn’t do such a thing? Is it likely?”
“Ingleborough says it is,” replied the young man addressed, shortly.
“Yes, but only because he is absurdly jealous of me, and dislikes to see me in the office. It would ruin me for ever if it were reported, and he says he is going to, although I have been begging and praying him not to do such a thing. What do you say?”
“If it’s true, and Ingleborough says it is, I don’t see how he could help, reporting your conduct to the directors.”
“But it isn’t true!” cried Anson, almost in a whine. “Oh, West, how can you? You know I couldn’t do such a thing!”
“Do you mean to say that you are quite innocent?”
“Oh, quite!” cried Anson. “It was as I told you. I only asked the two poor hard-working fellows what they meant to do, and then to my utter astonishment Ingleborough pounced upon me with that terrible charge. Help me, my dear friend, to make him see that he has deceived himself!”
“Do you hear, Ingle?” cried West sympathetically. “It is a terrible charge to bring against a fellow.”
“Terrible!” said Ingleborough sternly.