He says I have poisoned his dog." "Says you poisoned his dog, Reuben! Whatever put such an idea into his head ?" "The coachman saw a boy coming out of the yard, at a quarter past eight last night.

It was too dark for him to say for certain, but he thought it was me.

A quarter of an hour later the dog died of poison, and this morning they picked up a cover of one of those rat powders you sell.

I couldn't say where I was at a quarter past eight, when the coachman saw the boy; for as you know, mother, I told you I had walked out a bit, after I came out from the school, to get the stiffness out of my leg.

So, altogether, the squire has made up his mind 'tis me, and so he has sent me away." Reuben had summed up the points against himself in a broken voice, and now broke into a passion of tears.