More gasps of surprise.
“Who broke the window?” asked the principal.
“Bert Bobbsey!” said Sam in a firm voice, and Nan was so excited that she cried out:
“Oh!”
Nor did the principal or any of the teachers scold her. But Bert was not one to sit quietly and be falsely accused. In an instant he was on his feet, raising his hand that he might get permission to speak.
“Well, Bert,” said Mr. Tarton quietly.
“I didn’t break that window!” cried the Bobbsey lad. “I didn’t even throw a snowball toward it. I didn’t do it at all!” His face was very red.
“Sammie, did you actually see Bert Bobbsey throw a snowball at the stained-glass window and break it?” asked Mr. Tarton, and his voice was stern.
“No, sir, I didn’t really see him break the window,” Sam replied. “But I saw a snowball in his hand. I saw him raise his hand to throw the snowball, and right after that I heard the glass crack. Bert Bobbsey did it!”
“I did not!” exclaimed Bert.