"No, I didn't," his aunt breathed worriedly.
"I asked her to tell me all about last night and she would tell
me nothing. She said that the planks on the bridge tormented her.
To almost everything I asked her she said, 'I won't tell.' She is
very, very stubborn; she was always so."
"Because, anyway," Pee-Wee said, alluding to his former query,
"if anybody says she burned down the bridge on purpose it's a lie.
I don't care who says it, it's a lie. She's--she's my partner--and
it's a lie. If--even--if the minister says it, it's a lie!"
"Listen, my dear boy," said his aunt kindly. "I'm not angry with
Pepsy, poor child. I'm not accusing her, and you mustn't talk about
the Rev. Mr. Gloomer telling lies. Pepsy tried to burn down the
orphan home once, for some trifling grievance. We can't take the
responsibility of the poor child any longer. I'm afraid that any
minute Beriah Bungel will want to take her--arrest her. I know she's
your partner, dear, but it would be better for us to send her back
to the state home where she will probably be kept than to let her
be arrested. I don't think she knew what she was doing, poor, poor
child--"
Aunt Jamsiah broke down completely, crying in her handkerchief.
So Uncle Eb finished what little there was to say.
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