I hesitated.
"Well," he said, "what is it?"
"You don't think it was I who went to steal the pears, sir?" I said
uneasily.
"My good boy, no!" he said. "Pooh! nonsense! Looked like it at first.
Caught you dirty-handed. Good night!"
He turned away, and I ran into the yard, where Shock was slowly going
back to his hole in the straw.
"Good night, Shock!" I said.
He stopped without turning round, and did not reply. It was as if the
sulky morose fit had come over him again, but it did not last, for he
half turned his head and said: "I hit one on 'em such a crack on the nut."
Then he went to the ladder and climbed up into the loft, and I stood
listening to him as he nestled down in amongst the straw. Then Old
Brownsmith came to the back-door with the lantern and called me in to go
up to my room.