The sound of our voices brought Mrs. Rudge from the kitchen.
"Mother," old Rudge said, "Van wants to see May."
"Well, Cyrus, it won't do any harm, I guess."
When May came to the door she waited for me to speak.
"I want to tell you, May," I said slowly, "that I didn't have any hand in burning the judge's barn."
"I don't want to believe you did," she said.
"But you do all the same!" I cried sharply.
"Every one says you did, Van," she answered doubtfully.
"So you think I could do a mean, sneaky thing like that?" I replied hotly, and added bitterly: "And then not have sense enough to get out of the way! Well, I know what this means: you and Will have put your heads together. You're welcome to him!"
"You've no reason to say such things, Van!" she exclaimed.