“Hard as I could,” I said. “I think Shock and I punished them enough.”
“So do I. So do he. Rare and frightened they was too. Why, o’ course boys will steal apples. I dunno how it is, but they always would, and will.”
“But these were pears,” I said.
“All the same, only one’s longer than t’other. Apples and pears. He won’t do nothing.”
Ike was right, for the matter was soon forgotten, and Mrs Dodley his housekeeper used the pillow-case as a bag for clothes-pegs.
Those were bright and pleasant days, for though now and then some trouble came like a cloud over my life there was more often plenty of sunshine to clear that cloud away.
My uncles came to see me, first one and then the other, and they had very long talks with Mr Brownsmith.
One of them told me I was a very noble boy, and that he was proud of me. He said he was quite sure I should turn out a man.
“Talks to the boy as if he felt he might turn out a woman,” Old Brownsmith grumbled after he was gone.
It was some time after before the other came, and he looked me all over as if he were trying to find a hump or a crooked rib. Then he said it was all right, and that I could not do better.