Mr. Burrows' voice almost trembled as he answered,—
"It is a beautiful collection of some of the most precious verses in the Bible. It was a fine idea; I am very much surprised and pleased. I wish that you, and every scholar of mine, could feel in your hearts the full meaning of those words of Jesus."
"I can't to-night, Howard," said Ellis Holbrook, in answer to his friend's coaxings to accompany him home; "I've got something else to attend to. Hallo, Tip! Tip Lewis! Hold on a bit! I'm going your way. No, Howard, I'll come up in the morning; I really can't to-night."
Tip waited in wondering silence, while the boy, whom he counted an enemy, hurried towards him.
Ellis was a bold, prompt boy: when he had anything to say, he said it; so he came to the point at once.
"See here, Tip, did I blunder the other day when I told Mr. Burrows you threw paper? I thought I saw you."
"Yes," said Tip, "you did. I didn't throw a bit of paper that day."
"Well, father said he thought I was mistaken. I'm sure I supposed I was telling the truth. I'm sorry. I'll say so to Mr. Burrows and the boys, if you like, and let him find out who did it, and then was mean enough to see you whipped for it."
Tip struggled a little. "No," he said at last, "let it go. The whipping is done, and can't be undone; I don't want to make any more bother about it."