“I can’t help it I didn’t take it. I tell you I didn’t I didn’t!” cried Nat,
in a desperate sort of way.
“Gently, gently, my son! What is all this noise about?” and Mr.
Bhaer walked in among them.
Tommy repeated the story of his loss, and, as he listened, Mr.
Bhaer’s face grew graver and graver; for, with all their faults and
follies, the lads till now had been honest.
“Take your seats,” he said; and, when all were in their places, he
added slowly, as his eye went from face to face with a grieved
look, that was harder to bear than a storm of words,
“Now, boys, I shall ask each one of you a single question, and I
want an honest answer. I am not going to try to frighten, bribe, or
surprise the truth out of you, for every one of you have got a
conscience, and know what it is for. Now is the time to undo the
wrong done to Tommy, and set yourselves right before us all. I can
forgive the yielding to sudden temptation much easier than I can
deceit. Don’t add a lie to the theft, but confess frankly, and we will
all try to help you make us forget and forgive.”
He paused a moment, and one might have heard a pin drop, the
room was so still; then slowly and impressively he put the question
to each one, receiving the same answer in varying tones from all.
Every face was flushed and excited, so that Mr. Bhaer could not
take color as a witness, and some of the little boys were so
frightened that they stammered over the two short words as if
guilty, though it was evident that they could not be. When he came
to Nat, his voice softened, for the poor lad looked so wretched, Mr.
Bhaer felt for him. He believed him to be the culprit, and hoped to
save the boy from another lie, by winning him to tell the truth
without fear.
“Now, my son, give me an honest answer. Did you take the
money?”
“No, sir!” and Nat looked up at him imploringly.
As the words fell from his trembling lips, somebody hissed.
“Stop that!” cried Mr. Bhaer, with a sharp rap on his desk, as he
looked sternly toward the corner whence the sound came.
Ned, Jack, and Emil sat there, and the first two looked ashamed of
themselves, but Emil called out,
“It wasn’t me, uncle! I’d be ashamed to hit a fellow when he is
down.”
“Good for you!” cried Tommy, who was in a sad state of affliction
at the trouble his unlucky dollar had made.
“Silence!” commanded Mr. Bhaer; and when it came, he said
soberly,
“I am very sorry, Nat, but evidences are against you, and your old
fault makes us more ready to doubt you than we should be if we
could trust you as we do some of the boys, who never fib. But
mind, my child, I do not charge you with this theft; I shall not
punish you for it till I am perfectly sure, nor ask any thing more
about it. I shall leave it for you to settle with your own conscience.
If you are guilty, come to me at any hour of the day or night and
confess it, and I will forgive and help you to amend. If you are
innocent, the truth will appear sooner or later, and the instant it
does, I will be the first to beg your pardon for doubting you, and
will so gladly do my best to clear your character before us all.”
“I didn’t! I didn’t!” sobbed Nat, with his head down upon his arms,
for he could not bear the look of distrust and dislike which he read
in the many eyes fixed on him.
“I hope not.” Mr. Bhaer paused a minute, as if to give the culprit,
whoever he might be, one more chance. Nobody spoke, however,
and only sniffs of sympathy from some of the little fellows broke
the silence. Mr. Bhaer shook his head, and added, regretfully,
“There is nothing more to be done, then, and I have but one thing