"What's the matter, dear? What's the matter, my darling? Don't cry so, Master Hec," said Martin, as she drew him out.
"Poor Hec! Poor little Hec! Has he hurt himself?" exclaimed all the others.
"No, no, I hasn't hurt myself," sobbed Hec. "I'm crying 'cos it was me. It was me that tumbled the basket down, and Cousin Magdalen 'colded Hoodie. It wasn't poor Hoodie. It was all me."
And for some minutes, conscience-stricken Hec refused to be comforted.
