The time had now arrived when Henry was to be freed from his troubles, and to obtain a satisfactory victory over malignity and base design. On the evening after his father had taken leave of him, and when he, in company with his friend George, was sitting at his bed-room window, admiring the beauties of the setting sun, and enjoying the calmness of the surrounding scenery, an unusual noise was heard upon the stairs. Henry instantly rose from his seat and opened the door, when in rushed little Ned, breathless, and almost speechless. He had his hairy cap in his hand, and had contrived to run one of his legs through his long pin-afore, as he made his way up the stairs. His face was far more red than usual, and full of anxiety.
—its all found out!—the thief is found out. page 75.
"What is the matter, Ned?" said Henry as he entered: "you seem in a hurry."
"In a hurry!" Ned replied, gasping for breath: "in a hurry! Why, it's all found out!" said he, waving his cap over his head.
"What is found out?" asked George, laughing heartily at Ned's grotesque appearance. "Look at your leg through your pin-afore."
"Never mind," said he: "Kitty will mend that. But it is all found out! the thief is found out." As he uttered these words, he seized Henry by the hand, who, with George and himself, hastened down stairs, Ned repeating all the way, "It's all found out! I have found him out!" He dragged them both into the school-room, where most of the boys were assembled. Dr. Harris, who was disturbed by the noise, also followed; and, upon his entering, Ned called out, with a loud voice, "I charge you, Charles Greene, with stealing Scott's money, and will prove it!"
Greene started, as though he had seen something unnatural. "I,—I," was all he could articulate, and he turned as white as possible.