“I did not mean to kill him,” repeated the boy doggedly.
“Of course it would not occur to you that you were twice his size and weight, and that running over him meant—well manslaughter.”
“I never thought it for a moment—not for a moment.”
“Was the accident fatal, at once, may I ask?”
“No, sir; he was brought to the school insensible, and remained so for more than twelve hours. Then he became conscious, and seemed to be doing well.”
“A temporary rally, I suppose?” observed the guardian.
Jeffreys’ mouth worked uneasily, and his pale brow became overcast again.
“No, I believe if it hadn’t been for me he might have recovered.”
“Indeed,” said the other, once more raising his eyebrows; “what further attention did you bestow on him—not poison, I hope?”
“No, but I went to his room in the middle of the night and startled him, and gave him a shock.”