"You are a little wild--sometimes, dear, just a little--but you are
good--and honourable, aren't you?"
"Why, yes, Hermy I--I try t' be," he answered uneasily; "but I don't
know what you mean."
"You're not a thief, are you? You're not a burglar? You never broke into
any one's house. I know you didn't, but--tell me you didn't--tell me you
didn't!"
"No--no, o' course not," stammered Spike and, averting his head, tried
to draw away, but she clung to him all the closer.
"Boy--boy dear," she whispered breathlessly, "oh, boy, look at me!"
But seeing he kept his face still turned from her, she set a hand to his
cheek and very gently forced him to meet her look. For a long moment she
gazed thus--saw how his eyes quailed, saw how his cheek blanched, and as
he cowered away, she rose slowly to her feet, and into her look came a
growing horror; beholding which Spike covered his face and shrank away
from her.
"Oh, boy--" her voice had sunk to a whisper now, "oh, boy--say you
didn't!"
"Hermy--I--can't--"
"Can't?"
"It's--it's all--true.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362