It was Bernard’s intention to get up early in the morning and make his escape before Mr. Snowdon or any of his family were astir.
But a healthy boy, who is a good sleeper, cannot always fix the time of awaking. For some reason Bernard slept on till half-past seven o’clock. Septimus had occasion to go to the barn, and discovered him still asleep. He ran into the house in great excitement.
“Pa,” he said, “Bernard is asleep in the barn. I seed him.”
Occasionally Septimus, though the son of a teacher, made grammatical mistakes.
“Is he asleep?” asked Mr. Snowdon in a tone of interest.
“Yes, pa.”
“The Lord has delivered him into my hands. I will not neglect the opportunity to chastise him.”
“He may wake up when you are getting up.”
“I will take you with me to hold the ladder.”
“He might stick me with the pitchfork,” said Septimus, who was a coward at heart.