“Honest, Bobby,” Charlie whined again. “I’ll tell you who spoiled the book.”
“Well, who did?” demanded Bobby gruffly.
“You won’t hit me? Promise,” said Charlie, very much frightened.
“All right, I won’t hit you,” promised Bobby. “Who did it? You?”
Charlie Black scrambled to his feet.
“I’ll get killed if I’m found out,” he declared, “but Tim Roon did it, Bobby. I saw him. He spilled ink all over it, ’cause he was sore at Miss Mason. An’ he wouldn’t let me tell.”
Bobby and Meg were so excited that they hardly knew when Charlie Black skated away, after insisting that Tim Roon would certainly murder him if he ever discovered that he had told the secret. 173
“Tell? Of course we’ll tell everybody,” said Meg, dancing along beside Bobby, who had taken the box from her again. “Oh, hurry up, Bobby. You’re so slow, and we must let Mother know.”
At home the news was received with great rejoicing, and the twins had to relieve their feelings by banging on the dining-room gong till Norah descended on them and confiscated the padded stick. But Bobby was rather sober through all the noise, and presently Mother Blossom perceived this.
“I don’t think it’s fair to tell,” said Bobby, when she questioned him. “I’ll get Tim Roon into trouble, and Charlie Black, too. Course I’d like Miss Mason to know I didn’t do it, but I hate to make such a fuss.”