"No, sir, I didn't; it was Dexter. He asked me to play with him, and then his ball went right into the window."
With a sickening dread lest his only son was again deceiving him, the gentleman said,—
"Tell your master I will see to this in the morning. If my boy broke it, I shall, of course, pay for it; but I wish first to be sure of the fact."
As soon as the clerk was gone, Mr. Saunders took Joseph and went to Mr. Russel's. Dexter was just going to bed; but, at the gentleman's request, was called back to the parlor.
The father, who was closely watching his boy, saw that when his companion entered, smiling frankly, he looked very much confused.
"I want you to tell me all about Mr. K—'s glass. How did it happen to be broken?" said Mr. Saunders, after having cordially shaken the child's hand.
Dexter, without a moment's hesitation, and with his eye fixed on the gentleman's face, repeated minutely the events of the afternoon. Every word of which carried positive conviction of its truthfulness to the father's heart.
He looked at Joseph, when the story was finished, with such an expression of anger and contempt that the boy began to cry. At last he sobbed out,—
"I shouldn't have thought of playing if he hadn't asked me!"
The doctor's warning flashed across Mr. Saunders's mind but, making an effort to control himself, he patted Dexter's head fondly, saying, "You are a noble boy," and then, followed by Joseph, took his leave.