“On the contrary,” replied his father, “I had a scolding.”
“A scolding!” exclaimed Rollo.
“Yes,” replied his father; “I stepped out into the entry, and asked the chamber-maid who was there, if she would go and ask the landlord to come up into that room. When he came, I pointed to the wet and blackened ruins of the basket, and said,—
“‘We came very near having a fire, sir.’”
“And what did he say?” asked Rollo.
“Why, he thought that it was my room, and he was quite angry, and began to scold me for being so careless as to leave that basket so near the fire.”
“And what did you say?” asked Rollo.
“Nothing,” replied his father.
“Nothing!” exclaimed Rollo.
“No, I did not say any thing at all. I listened to hear all that he had to say, and then I went away to my room.”