Mac glanced quickly at his father"s lawyer, then back at the judge.
"Yes, sir."
"But you were fighting in the alley?"
"I was keeping the alley boys out of the cathedral yard."
"That"s a lie!" came in shrill, indignant tones from the little girl at his elbow.
"There seems to be some difference of opinion here," said the judge, putting his hand over his mouth to repress a smile at the vehemence of the accusation. "Suppose we let this young lady give her version of it."
Nance jerking her arm free from Mrs. Snawdor"s restraining hand, plunged breathlessly into her story.
"He was settin" on the fence, along with a parcel of other guys, a-makin"
faces an" callin" names long afore we even took no notice of "em."
"Both sides is to blame, your Honor," interposed Mason, "there ain"t a day when the choir rehea.r.s.es that I don"t have to go out and stop "em fighting."
"Well, in this case who started the trouble?" asked the judge.
Mrs. Snawdor clutched at Nance, but it was too late.
"I did," she announced.
The judge looked puzzled.
"Why, I thought you said the choir boys began it by sitting on the fence and making faces and calling names."
"Shucks," said Nance, contemptuously, "we kin beat "em makin" faces an"
callin" names."
"Well, how did you start the fight?"
"That there big boy dared me to step in the concrete. Didn"t you now?"
Mac stood looking straight ahead of him and refused to acknowledge her presence.
"It strikes me," said the judge, "that you choir boys could be better employed than in teasing and provoking the children in the alley. What do you think, Mac?"
Mac had been provided with no answer to this question, so he offered none.
"Unfortunately," the judge continued, "it is the fathers of boys like you who have to take the punishment. Your father will have to pay for the window. But I want to appeal to your common sense and your sense of justice. Look at me, Mac. You have had advantages and opportunities beyond most boys. You are older than these children. Don"t you think, instead of using your influence to stir up trouble and put us to this annoyance and expense, it would be much better for you to keep on your side of the fence and leave these people back of the cathedral alone?"
"Yes, sir," said Mac, perfunctorily.
"And you promise me to do this?"
"Yes, sir."
"We will give you a chance to make your promise good. But remember your name is on our record; if there is any more trouble whatever, you will hear from us. Mr. Clarke, I look to you to see that your son behaves himself. You may step aside please. And now, boy, what is your name?"
"Dan Lewis."
"Oh, yes. I think we have met before. What have you to say for yourself?"
The shoeless, capless, unwashed boy, with his ragged trousers. .h.i.tched to his shoulders by one suspender, frowned up at the judge through a fringe of tumbled hair.
"Nothin"," he said doggedly.
"Where do you live?"
"I live at home when me maw"s there."
"Where is she now?"
This question caused considerable nudging and side-glancing on the part of Mrs. Snawdor.
"She"s went to the country," said Dan.
"Is your father living?"
"I dunno."
"Did you go to school last year?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Didn"t have no shoes."
"Does your mother work?"
This question brought more nudges and glances from Mrs. Snawdor, none of which were lost on the boy.
"Me mother don"t have to work," he said defiantly. "She"s a lady."
The judge cleared his throat and called Mrs. Snawdor sharply to order.
"Well, Dan," he said, "I am sorry to see you back here again. What were you up for before?"
"Chuckin" dice."
"And didn"t I tell you that it would go hard with you if you came back?"
"Yes, sir, but I never chucked no more dice."
"And I suppose in spite of the way your mouth is bruised, you"ll tell me you weren"t mixed up in this fight?"