“But, my dear boy, you need not apologize for them. They were simply delicious. I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed them.” Miss Elting was making it as hard for George as possible.
“It—it isn’t that. Oh, what’s the use? I don’t know how to say it. We hadn’t any right to give you those melons, Miss Elting.”
“No right? Please explain yourself, Mr. Baker.”
“I’ll tell you all about it. We took those melons from the farmer’s field without leave. We didn’t mean to play a mean trick on you, but we did. We didn’t think the farmer would accuse you girls of stealing the melons. We’re awfully sorry he made such a fuss about it and that you had to pay for them. Will you please let us return to you the money that you paid him. It was our treat, you know.”
“Hm-m-m! This is a serious matter,” replied the guardian slowly. The girls sat with lowered heads so that the boys might not discover the laughter in their eyes. “I cannot accept the money for the melons. We had better consider the incident closed. It is very manly of you, however, to come and tell us about it. But what induced you to do so?”
“I gueth hith conthcience troubled him,” suggested Tommy wisely.
“Yes, I think so. But there was something else,” admitted the boy. “It wasn’t wholly conscience. We didn’t realize how very wrong it was until——”
“Until the Oracle told you,” nodded Tommy.
“What!” exclaimed George. The eyes of the Tramp Club were fixed on Tommy. “What do you mean by that?”
Harriet got up and with crossed hands before her, chin lowered, eyelids half veiling her eyes, moved demurely toward the captain.