Seth nodded, but did not trust himself to speak.
“Then go right back to bed. You shall stay here, my dear, until the time comes when you can confide in me, and meanwhile I will not believe you have been guilty of any wickedness.”
CHAPTER V.
AN ACCIDENT.
Filled with shame and confusion, Seth made no resistance when Aunt Hannah ordered him back to bed; but obeyed silently, moving stealthily as when he began the flight. He was trembling as with a sudden chill when he undressed and laid himself down, while Snip lost no time in curling his tiny body into a good imitation of a ball, wondering, perhaps, why he had thus been needlessly disturbed in his “beauty sleep.”
Seth was no longer capable of speculating upon the problem in which he had been involved through a lead nickel and an advertisement in the newspapers. He could only realize that Aunt Hannah had good reason to believe him a thief, or worse, otherwise she would not have been waiting to discover if he attempted to prowl around the house while she was supposed to be asleep, and his cheeks burned with shame at the thought.
He wished that the night might never come to an end, and then he would not be forced to meet her face to face, as he must when the sun rose.
“Of course she’ll tell Gladys where she found me, an’ both of ’em will believe I’m the worst feller that ever lived!” he whispered to himself; and then tears, bitter and scalding, flowed down his cheeks, moistening the spotless linen, but bringing some slight degree of comfort, because sleep quickly followed in their train.
Seth was awakened next morning by Aunt Hannah’s voice, as she called gently: