“If you feel that way,” said Joe Appleby, somewhat sneeringly, after the crowd had been silent for two or three moments, “why don’t you go with Mr. Morton when he visits the prisoners? I would do it if I felt as you do; I would think it very wrong to stay away.”
Joe’s tone, as he said this, was so absolutely taunting that most of the boys expected to see Paul spring at him and strike him; they certainly would do so themselves, if big enough, and talked to in that way. But Paul merely replied, “I don’t go, because he never asked me to.”
“Oh, don’t let that stand in your way,” said Joe, quickly; “you can easily do the asking yourself. I’ll ask for you, if you feel delicate about putting in your own word.”
At this the boys felt sure there would be a fight, but to their great surprise Paul sat quietly on the rail, and replied, “I should be much obliged if you would; that is, if you’re man enough to own that you first taunted me about it.”
Joe arose, and looked as proud as if he were about to lead a whole army to certain victory.
“I’ll do it,” said he, “and right away, too.”
“And I,” said Canning Forbes, “will go along to see that you tell the story correctly, and do full justice to Grayson.”
Joe scowled terribly at this, but Canning, although a very quiet fellow, had such a determined way in everything he undertook, that Joe knew it was useless to remonstrate, so he strode sullenly along, with Canning at his side. The other boys looked for a moment in utter astonishment; then, as with one accord, all but Paul sprung to their feet and followed.
Mr. Morton was astonished at the irruption, as his bell had not been sounded; but he listened to Joe’s request and to Canning’s statement, which was supported by fragments volunteered by other boys; then he replied, “I will gladly take Paul with me, but am sorry that the newest pupil in the school should be the first to express a kind thought about the unfortunates in the jail.”
Then Joe Appleby hung his head, and Canning Forbes did likewise, and most of the other boys followed their example; but Benny rushed to the side window, thrust his head out, and shouted, “It’s all right, Paul; he says you can go.”