"Is he still bleating there?" he said. "Is this still the only corner
where I can be sure of keeping my sanity? Is he reading his beastly
poetry upstairs? Is he----"
"He's goin'," said William moodily. "He's goin' before dinner. They've
sent for his cab. He's mad 'cause I said he was a smuggler. He was a
smuggler 'cause I saw him doin' it, an' I took him prisoner an' he got
mad an' he's goin'. An' they're mad at me 'cause I took him prisoner.
You'd think they'd be glad at me catchin' smugglers, but they're not,"
bitterly. "An' Mother says she'll tell you an' you'll be mad too
an'----"
Mr. Brown raised his hand.
"One minute, my son," he said. "Your story is confused. Do I
understand that Mr. Jones is going and that you are the cause of his
departure?"
"Yes, 'cause he got mad 'cause I said he was a smuggler an' he was a
smuggler an' they're mad at me now, an'----"
Mr. Brown laid a hand on his son's shoulder.
"There are moments, William," he said, "when I feel almost
affectionate towards you."
CHAPTER XII
THE REFORM OF WILLIAM
To William the idea of reform was new and startling and not wholly
unattractive. It originated with the housemaid whose brother was a
reformed burglar now employed in a grocer's shop.
"'E's got conversion," she said to William. "'E got it quite
sudden-like, an' 'e give up all 'is bad ways straight off. 'E's bin
like a heavenly saint ever since."
William was deeply interested.
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