“For if he saw me coming out of the church,” reasoned Bert, “he would guess that I made the noise that scared him away. Now he’ll be surprised when we hand him his ring.”
Mr. Ander put the gold finger ornament in his pocket and went back home, planning to go to Bert’s house in the evening. Danny lived not far from the Bobbsey house.
“I’m glad it can be proved that Bert didn’t break the window,” said the sexton.
“So am I,” agreed the deacon. “Bert’s a good boy. I never liked to think that he broke the window. Yet the other boys said he did.”
“Well, Danny never actually said so,” remarked Mr. Shull. “But he kept quiet about it when he knew that he, himself, had thrown the snowball that did the damage. It was just as bad as if Danny had said Bert did it.”
“Just the same,” agreed the deacon.
Bert found Nan and the small twins waiting rather anxiously for him when he got back.
“Did you get a letter from mother?” asked Nan as soon as the door was opened.
“No, not yet.”
“Oh, dear! I wonder what’s the matter,” and tears were in Nan’s eyes.