"No, and I don't care. He was picked up by the people in the bus, and if it hadn't been for that I suppose I'd be answerable to his parents for his death. He was very insolent to me."
"He didn't say——"
"Oh, no, he didn't say anything. He assumed an air of boyish independence; I don't know that I hold that against him."
"But he didn't tell you where he had been—or anything?"
"Why, no. I had no desire to hear that. His fault was in starting. It made no difference where he went."
"Oh."
For a few seconds Tom said nothing, only drummed with his fingers on the edge of the cot on which he sat.
"This is a big surprise to me," he finally said.
"It is a very regrettable circumstance to me," said Mr. Denny.
There ensued a few seconds more of silence. The boys outside could be heard starting for supper.