“That confirms what I said at the beginning. You did not give the matter much thought; if you had, you would have seen it in just this light, even if the fire had never happened. But, what surprises me most of all is, that, after you knew some villain had set Mr. Walker’s barn on fire, and run off with his horse, you did not take the trouble to think over this affair earnestly, and decide what it was your duty to do. You seem to have let it slip from your mind, as soon as you could, without knowing whether you were doing right or wrong. If you had done this under somewhat different circumstances, it might have blasted your character for life. Many an innocent man has found himself entangled in the meshes of the law, by merely keeping a rogue’s secret.”
Clinton was much affected by his father’s plain dealing with him, and attempted no further excuse. Whistler also felt badly about the affair, and he could not help taking to himself a good share of the censure bestowed upon his cousin. Mrs. Davenport, however, who had been a silent listener to the conversation, was not wholly satisfied with the course her husband had taken. She thought he had judged the boys with too much severity, and she accordingly put in a plea in their behalf. Her argument included pretty much all that could be said in mitigation of their error; and if they had been on trial, and she had been their lawyer, we may suppose that the heads of her “brief” would have been something after this fashion:
(1.) Their youth and inexperience—not strange that a wicked and artful man should mislead them—the young, by a beautiful law of our natures, are more inclined to believe than to doubt what is told them; not strange that so young persons should not go through a long process of reasoning, as to the right and wrong of the matter.
(2.) Dick’s feigned lameness was well calculated to deceive them, and allay all suspicion.
(3.) Their motive in keeping the secret was honorable—a regard for their promises.
(4.) The hints thrown out by several people, that Mr. Walker’s intemperate son, Tom, was suspected, may have had some influence on their minds.
(5.) The excitement about Willie’s accident, the dialogues, etc., had probably caused them to think less about the matter than they otherwise would.
“Well,” said Mr. Davenport, after she had concluded her defence, “you have made out something of a case; but, if my judgment was too severe, I am inclined to think yours is too lenient. After all, perhaps the truth lies about half way between us; so, Clinton, you can consider my judgment as softened down a little; but,” he added, with a smile, “you mustn’t think you are altogether so blameless as your mother makes you out.”
“Mr. Walker will get his horse back again, won’t he?” inquired Willie.
“Yes; a man has a right to his own property, wherever he can find it,” replied Mr. Davenport.