"Of course not. Why should he?" said Mrs. Tracy. "He gave it freely, and it would be very strange if he wished it back."
Here the conversation dropped, much to Harold's relief. Warner accompanied his aunt from the room.
"What do you think of Harold's story, Warner?" asked the old lady.
"It is very ingenious."
"But not true?"
"No; he got the watch and chain from a pawnbroker. I saw him come out of the shop, and going in, questioned the pawnbroker. He must have got the ticket somewhere."
"Then it seems that Harold is not only a thief, but a liar."
"My dear aunt, let us not be too hard upon him. This is probably his first offense: I feel like being charitable, for I have been in the same scrape."
"I can overlook theft more easily than his attempt to blacken the reputation of Luke," said Mrs. Merton, sternly.