And now to return to the beaten path: Sam persisted that it was our young friends, so they went to look at the trampled place, and one and all declared it was a shame.
All at once Harry made a proposition which caused old Sam’s mouth to expand into a grin, after which he gave a series of hearty chuckles, and slapping the boy on the shoulder, exclaimed, “Well, it couldn’t a been you arter all, Master Harry—(chuckle, chuckle, chuckle)—we’ll do it this very night, we will.”
What they did that very night will come out in due course.
Chapter Twenty.
Mr Jones’s Mishap.
About eleven o’clock the next morning, Mr Inglis was sitting in his study, writing; Mrs Inglis was working at the open window, and occasionally watching the boys, who were amusing themselves upon the lawn, when all at once a knock came at the study-door.
“Come in,” said Mr Inglis, and in came Mary, trying to look very serious, but evidently struggling with a laugh which would keep crinkling up the corners of her mouth, although she kept smoothing them out with her apron.
“Well, Mary?” said her mistress.