“Was this a little thing, Tom?”
“No, uncle,” cried Tom piteously; “but it would be so horrible. He is my own cousin.”
“Yes, Tom, and my own brother’s son.”
“Yes, uncle; and he never liked me, and I never liked him, but I can’t stand by and let you punish him without saying a word.”
“Then you mean to tell me, Tom, that you would let him go scot free, sooner than have him punished for trying to take again what is your heritage?”
“Yes, uncle, I would,” cried Tom excitedly, “every penny, sooner than he and my aunt and uncle should come to disgrace.”
“But they behaved badly to you, sir.”
“Perhaps I deserved some of it, uncle.”
“Then you must have been a bad one, Tom.”
“Yes, uncle, I’m afraid so. But you will let him off? Perhaps he’ll repent and send the papers back.”