"Uncle Daniel--" It was a moment before Uncle Daniel looked up. "Is this true?" "Well," began Uncle Daniel, in confusion. "It was this way--" "_Is it true?_" asked William again. Now it was Jacob Kalb who nudged and Uncle Daniel who paid no heed. He would take advantage of any means to advance on the path which he had set out for himself, he could even deceive himself into believing that he had done his best for the children, he could cheat and slander the absent, but here in the court-house, in the presence of the judge, he could not lie. "No," he answered. He looked like an old man. "Why did you accuse this young man falsely?" asked the judge. Uncle Daniel got upon his feet. "I think I will go home," he said. "William can be guardian if he wants to." "No," said the judge. "You will not go home. You will answer my question. Did this young man owe the school-board forty dollars?" "Yes." "Did he pay it to the school-board?" "No." "I have your receipt," said William. "And Jacob Kalb was present when it was paid." "It ain't so," muttered Jacob Kalb. Then Uncle Daniel's rage broke forth. "He did give me forty dollars," he shouted. "But he owed it to me before he owed it to the school-board, for all the things I bought him already. A couple of suits and hats and candy and such a little velocipede and peanuts, and I took him in the Fair; and then he wasn't thankful. He wouldn't be adopted. He--" "So he paid you the forty dollars?" "Yes. But it was mine." Then Uncle Daniel read in the faces of those about him the first frank estimate of his character which it had ever been his misfortune to see. "I think I will go home," he said again. "Not yet," replied the judge grimly. He looked at William. "Do you want to prosecute this gentleman?" "No," answered William. The judge saw that his lips were trembling. "The court is adjourned," he said. Then he changed his mind about lingering to talk to William. He opened the door into the ante-room, and shook hands with them all. "Make yourselves at home, and stay as long as you like. I'm coming out to Spring Grove to see you. And if you ever need a friend, I'll do my best to help you. And if--" he looked smilingly at William and Miss Miflin, then he concluded that this was not a time for joking. "God bless you," he said, and was gone. It was not until then that Sarah felt the arm round her loosen its hold. "He has Albert yet," she said. "I am afraid he will do him something." Whereupon the arm tightened its grasp once more, and William had only one hand to hold out to the amazed and delighted twins. "Albert is all right," he said. "And you're not to worry about anything, ever." "And if it hadn't been for teacher--" began Sarah. "I know," said William. "And now we will go home." "Home!" The word was like a burst of song. And only a few hours before she had thought they would have no home. She took a twin by either hand. "Come!" But the twins drew back.