“No, sir; I’ve run away from Bolsover.”
Mr Halgrove raised his eyebrows.
“Indeed! Was it for the fun of the thing, or for any special reason?”
“It was because I have killed a boy,” said Jeffreys hoarsely.
It spoke volumes for Mr Halgrove’s coolness that he took this alarming announcement without any sign of emotion.
“Have you?” said he. “And was that for fun, or for any special reason?”
“I didn’t mean it; it was an accident,” said Jeffreys.
“Is the story worth repeating?” asked the guardian, knocking the ash off the end of the cigar, and settling himself in his chair.
Jeffreys told the story in a blundering, mixed-up way, but quite clearly enough for Mr Halgrove.
“So you meant to run at him, though you didn’t mean to kill him?” said he, when the narrative was ended.