“I refer to your attempt to throw him overboard.”
“Does he say that?” asked the professor in pretended amazement.
“Yes.”
“Then he has told an outrageous falsehood. No such thing ever took place. He is the worst boy I ever met.”
“When you were here before you spoke very differently of him. You said he was a very attractive boy, and you referred to his attachment to you. You said he shed tears at parting from you.”
Bernard burst into a fit of laughter, which only aggravated his old guardian the more.
“He didn’t deserve it. I spoke of him as well as I could, because I did not want to hurt his reputation.”
“Professor Puffer,” said Walter Cunningham, in a tone of disgust, “I am busy this morning, and I will not detain you any longer.”
“I will go,” responded the professor, “but not alone. Bernard Brooks, come with me!”
“I decline,” said Bernard.