A Final Reckoning

ster's wife started a sewing class for the girls and, a week or two after he came, the master announced that such of the elder class of boys and girls who ch

reading some interesting work of travel or adventure, and then the time was occupied in talking over what they had read, and in explaining anything which they did not understand; and as the evenings were

g how eager he was to get on, doing everything in his power to help him forward, and lending him

and says that he is far and away the cleverest and most studious of the boys. I like the lad, and owe him a good turn for having broken in that p

aid. "I was thinking, when he gets a little older, of app

s for him, and perhaps, when you tell me what line he has chosen, a word from me to one of the tradesmen in Lewes may be a help. In the meantime, that is not what I have specially come about. Young Finch, who looks to my garden, is going to leave; and if you like, your boy can have the place. My gardener knows his busi

the biggest boy in the school; and though I know he likes learning, he would like to be helping me, and feels somehow that it isn't right that he should be going on

ing the boy earns with me, you see, you can put

it as a sort of reproach that, while others of his age were earning money, he should be doing nothing. He accepted the offe

Reuben; partly because her evidence had cleared him of the accusation of breaking the windows, partly because he had broken in

as clever enough to break in my pony, I am sure he will

hing, "although it does not exactly follow. Still, if yo

pa, mamma is a woman, and perhaps she doesn't understand boys and girls

uire l

would agree that you understand boys and girls better than she does.

hearing, but she was greatly pleased, one mo

ng, Reuben,

ss," he replied,

good, and not get into scrapes, for I told papa I thought you wo

euben said. "I don't do it often, you know, and I

ked on, and Reuben

, he had not been there a week before, in his eagerness to get home to a particularly interesting book, he forgot to carry out his orders to shut the cucumber frames and, a

ire. Such carelessness I never did see,

fully, for he was fond of cucumbers. "I will speak

d the squire that it should not occur again, but mentally resolved very firmly that it should not. He felt very shamefaced when Kate passed him in the

ention to his work, and even the gardener, who regarded boys a

ttends to what I say and remembers it, and I find I can trust him to do jobs that I have never been able to trust boys with, befo

nt, and will make his way in life, or I am mistaken. His father was an uncommonly clever

ntrance to the stables. Reuben was soon excellent friends with the sporting dogs, but the watchdog, who had probably been teased by Reuben's predecessor, always growled

al at once sprang out. Reuben made a rush, but he was not quick enough, and the dog caught him by the leg. Reu

t you badl

he has nearly taken a piece out of my calf," as, on pulli

it," the coachman said. "He's a bad-temper

I wish you had stuck that fork into him, instead of hitting him with it. If you hadn't been within reach,

eg; and then, going into the kitchen, he got so

gardener, when he comes round, what has happened to yo

he met Tom Thorne wal

xclaimed. "What's come to you

Reuben answered. "The savage beast has had a try, a good many ti

he walked for some distance up the road, for his leg was very stiff; and he thought it would be a good thing to try and walk it off, as he intended to go to w

saw him, "for there's a lot of work on hand; but I see you

and I don't think I can walk about much; bu

shifting into larger pots. You do them, and I will take up the fork

hen went off to his breakfast. On his return,

e gardener remarked. "I suppose you

t's a precious good job. I wish he had been

was shown into the library, where the squ

oachman told me, three days ago, that you had been bitten by the yard dog, and I made up my mi

to say something; but the boy, hav

the gardener

know about

bout it, sir," Reuben re

ink well of you; and although I consider it a serious offence your p

r," Reuben affirmed. "I nev

et his lips

tory over again," he

he gate, out runs a boy. It was too dark for me to see his face, but I naturally supposed it were Reuben,

med very bad. I stood a-looking at him, wondering what were best to do, when sudden he gave a sort of yell, and rolled over, and he was dead. I thought it was no good telling you about it till this morning; and thinking it over, and seeing how sudden like it was,

oned, for just outside of the reach of his chain there wa

about four inches square, on w

n? What have you to s

wered, "except that whoever the boy was, it

for you to clear yourself, by s

it, Robert, that

ight, squire. The quarter str

r at home at th

. I went to the

did you l

at eig

oy," the squire said. "If your mother tells me that you were in at five m

about for a bit, after I came out from school, to try and get the st

anyone to say what you did with yours

; and didn't see a soul, so far as I know, from the time

s of this poison?" the squire

oked at t

I believe

ut your size was seen by Robert in the dark, coming out of the gate; and that he was there for no good purpose is proved by the fact that he ran away when spoken to. A quarter of an hour later

d, passionately. "It wasn't me, squire, if

ion of pursuing the matter further; nor will I, for your father's and mother's sake, bring public disgrace u

, he would have burst into a passion of tears. With a white fa

" she said. "I thought you

a choking voice. "The squire has dismis

g, Reuben! Whatever put s

of poison, and this morning they picked up a cover of one of those rat powders you sell. I couldn't say where I was at a quarter past eight, when the coachman saw the boy; for as you know, mot

sion of tears. His mother tried in vain to pacify him; but indeed her own indignation, at h

ver again. "I call it downright wicked of

quire should know it. Somebody has poisoned his dog, and that somebody is a boy. He knows that I was unfriendly with the dog so, putting things together, I don't see as he could help suspecting me, and only my word the other way. It

is father," Mrs. Whitney said, ta

orne; so as we know the squire's wrong, it's ten times as likely we shall be wrong. Besides, if he did it, of course he would deny it, he is the worst liar in the vill

't do, and sat down again. Reub

e village will get to know of it, and they will point at me as the boy as pois

up the cottage and move into Lewes, at once. I didn't go there before, for I am

London. They say there is lots of work there,

g in a workhouse. No, Reuben, my plan's best. It's just silliness my not liking to settle in Lewes; for of course it's better going where one is known, and I should be lost in a strang

upstairs to lie down, for his leg was very painful.

wouldn't have believed it of him, but he's done it; so now, ma'm, I give a week's notice of this house, and here's my rent up to that time

e saw at once, in Mrs. Whitney's face, that it were better not to reply to her; and that her authority as the squire's wife had, for on

an account of the interview to the squire, "that the woman would have slapped

dismissal. It's a sad business altogether, and I know it will be a worry and trouble to me for months. Mind, I don't doubt that the boy did it; it does not seem possible that it should be otherwise. Still, it is not absolutely proved; and upon my word, I wish no

it, William. The boy has always been a troubleso

oyed and put out and, after wandering over the ground and stables, h

Shrewsbury, about

said. "He was here yesterday evening, as usual. His leg is

estily; "then he would have been laid up quie

, sir?" the schoolmast

death, and of his interview with Reuben. T

tter, Shrewsbury?" the squir

any opinion," the schoo

l, say it out, man; you won't offend me. I am half inclined to t

to be not only a singularly intelligent and hard-working lad, but a perfectly truthful and open one. I allow that the circumstances are much against him; but the evidence is, to my mind, completely overbalanced by his abs

a different class, altogether, to the other women of the village. The boy has a certain refinement about him, a thoughtfulness and consideration which set him apart from the others. Mischievous and somewhat inclined to be noisy as he generally is, on days when I have not felt quite equal to my work he would notice it

killed," the squire urged, as

e bite; and I think probably he meant no more than a man who, under the s

hen in wrath he was, himself, g

now what to do. My wife has just been up to see Mrs. Whitney, and the woman blazed out at her, and wouldn't let her say a word, but gave notice that she should give up the house at the end of t

stood somewhat apart from the rest of the village and, in thought and speech, differed widely from the labourers' wives; and on evenings when the sew

you are going to leave, and that we are still more sorry for the cause. Of course, neither my wife nor myself belie

e thought that all the village would believe Reuben guilty had cut her to the heart, and she had felt so unwilling to face anyone that, as soon as Mrs. Ellison had l

Shrewsbury said, when the widow recovered her composure. "I s

ng Reuben to be guilty of poisoning his dog, and not believing the boy when he said he had nothing to do with it. He ought to

uire came in to me to tell me about it, and I could see he was not satisfied in his mind, even before I gave him my positive opinion that Reuben was innocent; and I do think that, if you had not given Mrs. E

was not a bit hasty. Mrs. Ellison came in here prepared to talk to me about Reuben's wickedness; I saw it in her face, so I wou

d, if a son of mine had been suspected in the same way. Still, I think it's a pity; for if Reuben had stayed here, there would

said that he and his wife would sometimes come over to see her; and that he hoped that Reuben, whatever trade he

and Reuben moved, with all