"Out of pity I suppose. Kate is a careless girl, wilful, and disobedient. She objects to being shut up in her chamber for her misdemeanors."
Tom Thornton related the incident in which Bob and I had been concerned on the pier.
"The child must have been badly abused, or she would not have jumped into the lake," said uncle Amos, when he had heard the story.
"It does not concern you or me whether she has been or not. I fancy the girl is not of much use to any one."
"Why do you run after her, then?"
"What's the use of arguing the question. Mrs. Loraine wishes me to find the girl, and return her; and I'm going to do it, if I have to choke your smart boy to get at it. Where is he?"
"In his chamber; but you must not harm him," replied uncle Amos, nervously. "He is as high-spirited as his father was."
"What do I care for that? He must tell me where the girl is."
"Perhaps he will not be willing to tell you."
"Then I shall make him do so," added Tom, savagely; and it seemed to me he was getting up a very pleasant prospect for me.