This was what Mrs. Monson meant when she told Mr. Bryant that she and Charley had a plan. In the next chapter, I shall tell you how the plan succeeded. Now I will only say that Oscar was so frightened at what he had done, and so sure he should get the punishment he deserved, that he dared not go home till it was quite dark, and then he crept along past Mr. Monson's house very slyly, like a thief.
[CHAPTER V.]
GOOD FOR EVIL.
OSCAR was not in the habit of telling his mother what he had done, as good boys and girls always do. I am sorry to say that, when he had reached home, and his mother had scolded him for staying so long, he told her a wicked lie.
"I was going by Mr. Monson's gate," he said, peevishly, "and Charley came out, and knocked me down, and spilled most all the soup."
"Why didn't you kick him?" exclaimed the wicked mother.
Oscar said nothing; but, after eating his supper in silence, he went off to bed.
Two days after this, he was sitting idly in the sun, near a pile of small wood, which his mother had tried to coax him to split, when Mr. Monson's carriage stopped at the door, and Charley jumped out. He had a bandage around his head, and looked very pale.
Oscar trembled. Bad boys are always cowards, because their consciences tell them they have done wrong and deserve punishment.
Then Mrs. Monson followed with a very large and heavy bundle in her arms.