“That’ll do; don’t tell lies as well as steal; get away.”
“I never stole anything!” began Stephen, whose confusion was being rapidly followed by indignation at this unjust suspicion.
“That’ll do. A little boy like you shouldn’t practise cheating. Off you go! If I catch you again I’ll take you to the Doctor.”
In vain Stephen, now utterly indignant, and burning with a sense of injustice, protested his innocence. He could not get a hearing, and presently found himself out in the passage, the most miserable boy in all Saint Dominic’s.
He wandered disconsolately along the corridor, trying hard to keep down his tears, and determined to beg and beseech his brother to let him return home that very evening, when Loman and a friend confronted him.
“Hullo, I say, is tea ready?” demanded the former.
“No,” said Stephen, half choking.
“Why ever not, when I told you?”
Stephen looked at him, and tried to speak, and then finally burst into tears.
“Here’s an oddity for you! Why, what’s the row, youngster?”