He never towered
from his height above Billy, but always lifted the little soul when
important matters were to be discussed.
"Now what a dandy scheme," he commented. "Did you and Aunt Margaret fix
it up?"
"No. She ain't had hers yet. But I got one for her. Ist as soon as you
eat yours, I am going to take hers, and feed her first time I find her
in the dark."
"But Billy, where did you get the cookies? You know Aunt Margaret said
you were not to have any."
"I ist took them," said Billy, "I didn't take them for me. I ist took
them for you and her."
Wesley thought fast. In the warm darkness of the barn the horses
crunched their corn, a rat gnawed at a corner of the granary, and among
the rafters the white pigeon cooed a soft sleepy note to his dusky mate.
"Did--did--I steal?" wavered Billy.
Wesley's big hands closed until he almost hurt the boy.
"No!" he said vehemently. "That is too big a word. You made a mistake.
You were trying to be a fine little man, but you went at it the wrong
way. You only made a mistake. All of us do that, Billy. The world grows
that way. When we make mistakes we can see them; that teaches us to be
more careful the next time, and so we learn."
"How wouldn't it be a mistake?"
"If you had told Aunt Margaret what you wanted to do, and asked her for
the cookies she would have given them to you."
"But I was 'fraid she wouldn't, and you ist had to have it."
"Not if it was wrong for me to have it, Billy.
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