The tone was not so peremptory as the words; and the child, too ignorant to be really frightened at what he had done, went on with his confession, quite heedless of the numerous eyes fixed upon him with various expressions of tenderness, amusement, and dismay. And very soon all came out. Everett had deliberately and intentionally done the deed. He had been unable to withstand the misery and entreaties of the man, and he had slipped down the ladder, run round to the unguarded strong door, and with much toil forced back the great bolt, unfastened the chain, and set the prisoner free. "And do you know, Everett, what it is you have done?--how wrong you have been?" "I was afraid it was a little wrong,"--he hesitated; "but,"--and his courage seemed to rise again at the recollection,--"it would have been so dreadful for the poor man to go to prison! He said he should be quite ruined,--quite ruined, papa; and his wife and the little children would starve. You are not _very_ angry, are you? Oh, papa!" For Everett could hardly believe the stern gaze with which the magistrate forced himself to regard his little son; and sternly uttered were the few words that followed, by which he endeavored to make clear to the childish comprehension the gravity of the fault he had committed. Everett was utterly subdued. The tone of displeasure smote on his heart and crushed it for the time. Only once he brightened up, as with a sudden hope of complete justification, when Mr. Gray adverted to the crime of the man, which had made it right and necessary that he should be punished. "But, papa," eagerly broke in the boy, "he hadn't stolen the things. He told me so. He wasn't a thief." "One case was proved beyond doubt." "Indeed, indeed, papa, you must be mistaken," cried Everett, with tearful vehemence; "he couldn't have done it; I know he couldn't. He said, _upon his word_, he hadn't." It was impossible to persuade him that such an asseveration could be false. And when the little offender had left the room, various remarks and interjections were indulged in,--all breathing the same spirit. "What a jolly little muff Everett is!" was his brother Dick's contingent. "Innocent little fellow!" said one. "Happy little visionary!" sighed another.