No, indeed, it was not, and they failed to make it out to their satisfaction; but it might have helped them if they had seen him hand the fish to "Mary," and say,—
"There, what do you think of that? The very boys I told you of."
"The ones you saw on the green, fighting?"
"Exactly. I must see Dr. Brandegee. They can't be altogether bad."
"Bad? No! There must be something about it. The doctor always knows. He will be able to explain it, I know."
Great was the confidence of the Grantley people in Dr. Brandegee, as to any and all things relating to "his boys;" and that of Mrs. Fallow was none the less when her husband returned from his evening call.
"Defending that colored boy? You don't say. The dear, brave little fellows! Fighting is dreadful. Did any of them get hurt?"
"Hurt, dear? No; and they gave those young ruffians—H'm! Well—David had to do a great deal of fighting, Mary, but we must not approve too."—
"My dear! I say they did right."
And the little woman's tired face flushed into sudden beauty, with her honest enthusiasm over "those boys."