“You didn’t tell me you were impudent, Ronald; why did you keep that back?” inquired Marcus.
“I didn’t know that I was impudent,” replied Ronald.
“You said I shouldn’t punish you, and that you would never come to school again if I did; shouldn’t you call that impudent, Marcus?” inquired the teacher.
“Yes, I call that impudent language, when addressed to a teacher,” replied Marcus. “Still, I think he may not have intended to be saucy—that is a fault he is not much addicted to. What did you do with Mrs. Benham’s stick, Ronald?”
“I broke it, and threw it into the swamp,” replied Ronald.
Marcus expressed a wish to see the blotted writing-book, and it was handed to him. After a close examination, he discovered that the blots were of a lighter color than the writing upon the page, indicating one of two things: 1st, They were made with a different ink from that which Ronald used; or, 2d, They had been recently made, and the ink had not yet acquired its perfect color from contact with the air. This discovery, however, gave no clew to the mystery, although it proved that Ronald did not blot the book when he last used it. Ronald now renewed his protestations of innocence, with such apparent sincerity, that Marcus felt satisfied he was telling the truth, especially as he had not known him to adhere stubbornly to a falsehood for several years. His teacher also admitted the possibility of his innocence so far as that offence was concerned, but thought he had done enough, independent of that, to justify her in excluding him from the school.
“We admit that he has done wrong,” said Marcus, “but we should be very sorry to have him expelled from school. He expects to leave next month, but he mustn’t go with such a stain as this upon his name. On what conditions will you consent to his coming back to school?”
Mrs. Benham thought a moment, and then replied:—
“I do not wish to be harsh or unreasonable with Ronald. If he is sorry for what he has done, and is willing to say so before the school, that is enough. As the offence was committed before the whole school, I do not think I ought to ask less than that.”
“I think that is reasonable,” replied Marcus. “Are you willing to do it, Ronald?”