Since that time there has been bad blood between the boys.

I do not for a moment say that Thorne poisoned your dog.

Still, the boys are near enough of a size for one to be mistaken for the other in the dark; and Thorne knew that Reuben had been bitten by the dog, for Reuben spoke to another boy about it, that afternoon, while Thorne was standing by.

Of course, this is but the vaguest suspicion.

Still, if you ask my opinion, I should say that I consider, from what I have heard of the character of Tom Thorne, that he would be much more likely to poison the dog, in order to get Reuben into disgrace, than Reuben would be to do so out of revenge because the dog had bitten him." The squire took off his hat, and passed his hands through his hair, in perplexity.
"I don't know what to think, Shrewsbury," he said.