He had felt that his punishment for a boy-frolic and the unexpected results of Billy's alarm had been pretty large.

His aunt had not said so to him, but had made it clear to her husband that the penalty was quite disproportioned to the size of the offence; a remark which had made him the more resolute not to disturb the course of justice; and now this chit of a girl had made him seem like an irresolute fool, and he would have to explain to Rivers, who would laugh.

As he went out of the hall-door, he felt a pretty rough little paw in his hand and heard a whisper.

"You're just the dearest thing ever was." Concerning John Penhallow, it is to be said that he did not understand why he was let off so easily.

He had a suspicion that Leila was somehow concerned, and also the feeling that he would rather have suffered to the end.