I never touched them--I only--I--I know who did, that's all." Mrs Trotter still held me fast.
"Oh, you know who did, do you ?" "Yes--he's a--" I was going to say "shoeblack," but I stopped myself in time, and said, "a little boy." She released her grasp, greatly to my relief, and waited for me to go on.
"And I really don't think he knows any better," said I, recovering my confidence.
"Well," she said, eyeing me sharply.
"Well," I said, "I know the proper thing would be to give him up to the police." "That's what I'd do to you in a minute, if you'd stolen them," she said.
"I've rather an interest in the little boy," I said nervously, "and I thought if you wouldn't mind telling me what the boots came to, I'd ask you to let me pay for them.

I don't think he'll do it again." "Well, it's a very queer thing," said the woman; "what a popular young thief your friend must be! Why, I had a young gentleman here yesterday evening asking the very same thing of me!" "What!" I exclaimed, "was it Jack Smith ?" "I don't know his name, but he'd a pair of black eyes that would astonish you." "That's him, that's him!" I cried.

"And he wanted to pay for the boots ?" "He did pay for them.

I shall make my fortune out of that pair of boots," added she, laughing.
This, then, explained his wearing the boots that morning.

How quick I had been to suspect him of far different conduct! "You'd better keep your money for the next time he steals something," observed Mrs Trotter, rather enjoying my astonishment; "he's likely to be a costly young treat to you at this rate.