The conversation continued.
“They will suppose, I expect,” added John, “that Thomas set it on fire with his pipe.”
“Yes,” said William, “perhaps they will.”
Here there was another pause.
The boys hesitate.
“Unless,” continued John, after reflecting on the subject a little while in silence, “unless mother should remember that she gave us the candle, and ask us about it.”
“We could say,” he added again, “that we did not go into the shop any time in the afternoon or evening. That would be true.”
“Yes,” said William. “We did not go into it at all after we went home to dinner.”
The boys remained silent a few minutes after this, when John, who felt still quite uneasy in mind on the subject, said again,
“I expect that father would be very much displeased with us if he knew that we set the tool-house on fire, for it has burned up all his tools.”