"I couldn't help it."
"Yes, you could, Noddy. That's only making a bad matter worse. Of course you could help setting a building on fire."
"It wasn't my fault, Miss Bertha," stammered he; "I can't explain it now—perhaps some time I may; and when you understand it, you won't think so bad of me."
"If there is anything about it I don't know, why don't you tell me?" added Bertha, mystified by his strange remark.
"I can't say anything now. Please don't ask me anything about it, Miss Bertha. I'm not half so much to blame as you think I am; but I set the fire, and they are after me for it. They have used all sorts of tricks to catch me; but I'm not going into any court-house, or any tinker's shop."
"What tricks do you mean?"
"They said they had a lot of money for me, and that Squire Wriggs wouldn't do me any harm."
"Well, I don't know anything about that. Father went over to Whitestone with Squire Wriggs, after you ran away. He went over again last night, after he came from the city, and I haven't seen him for more than a moment since."
"He is going to send me to the court-house," said Noddy, fully satisfied that Bertha knew nothing about the proceedings of her father. "I am going to sea, now."