"Now then." "I n--n--never did n--nothin' else," Bunty gasped.

He felt certain it was all over with him, and the cricket ball episode was discovered.
He even looked nervously round to see if the riding-whip was near.
Yes, there was Esther's silver-topped one flung carelessly on a chair.
He found time to wish fervently Esther was a tidy woman.
"Nothing at all, Bunty?
On your word ?" said his father, in an impressive tone.
"I was p--playin' marbles," he said, in a shaking voice.

"How c--c--could I have sh--shot anything at y--y--your old horse ?" "Horse--ah!" said his father.

A light broke upon him, and his face grew stern.

"What did you throw at Mazeppa to lame him?
Answer me at once." Bunty gave a shuddering glance at the whip.
"N-n-nothin'," he answered--"n--nothin' at all.