"She understood you to say so," answered conscience. "She did not remember the words; but she supposed Ralph's call was a foolish joke; and that the teacher knew nothing about it."
"If she is stupid I am not to blame," said Jimmy stopping short and gazing in the dirt. "I don't believe 'twas a lie 'cause I didn't say I'd been to school; but I wish Ralph had minded his own business and not come here."
He had to pass by Gip's house; and the dog hearing his step rushed out again. Jimmy usually welcomed him with a hearty, "Well, old fellow," patting his head as the affectionate creature jumped on him or licked his hand; but now he felt as though Gip knew he had done wrong. Gip had seen him steal like a thief over the wall, and had tried to make him go back, and enter the yard like an honest boy. He was glad Gip could not tell what he knew.
At first he thought he wouldn't notice the dog, at all; but the faithful creature seemed so delighted to see him again that he couldn't help it; and so he invited Gip to go with him for the cows.
[CHAPTER III.]
DANIEL AND HIS FATHER—A TROUBLED CONSCIENCE.
IN the meantime what has become of Daniel?
When he reached home he found his father at work on a patch of ground behind the house and his older brother cleaning fish in the stoop.
"Where have you been, you young scamp?" inquired Mr. Crawson, sternly gazing at his son.
"To school, sir," was the prompt reply.