Freeman turned his face away, and sat silent for many minutes. When he spoke again, his voice was low and firm.
“I’ll do it, Stanley,” he said, “but I must do it right away. Will you come with me?”
“Gladly,” and without another word, Clark picked up the basket and led the way homeward.
An hour later, Professor Keene was informed that two boys wanted to speak to him, and going down to his library, found Clark and Freeman awaiting him there. Clark stayed only until Freeman’s confession was made; then he quietly left the room and waited on the sidewalk for his cousin.
It was a long time that he had to wait. Indeed, it was nearly dark before Freeman joined him, and the two walked on together in a silence that Clark dared not break and Freeman could not.
“Not going home, Ray?” Clark said, inquiringly, as his cousin turned another way.
“I must see Mr. Horton before I go home,” Freeman answered. “I told the professor I would.”
Mr. Horton was quite as much surprised as the principal had been, when he heard what Freeman had to say to him; but he, too, was very kind, and most heartily glad to know that this one, at least, of his troublesome pupils would henceforth cease to be a trial in the class-room.
When Freeman left Mr. Horton’s house, he looked worn and weary, yet there was an expression of relief—of peace even, in his pale face. He looked as if he had laid down a heavy burden that he had long been bearing; and this, indeed, was just what he had done.
“Now I can go home,” he said. “But, oh, Stanley, I can’t be thankful enough that you persuaded me to own up to it all. You saved me from being suspended, if not expelled, for Professor Keene and Mr. Horton had found out all about it.”