thought there must be something wrong about it. Then I went up to the
little inn to get a glass of milk and a bit of bread. When I came into
the sitting-room, there was a boy there, who sat with his arms on the
table, and his head on his hands, with his hat tipped down so over his
eyes that I couldn't see his face. He was dressed like a workman, with
a leather apron on, and a coarse shirt, and an old overcoat outside,
though it was so warm I was glad to go in my flannel sleeves. There
was something queer about the boy. I could see his hands. They were
not very clean, to be sure, but they didn't look as if they had seen
much real work. I soon got through thinking about the boy, who seemed
to be asleep. I finished my bread and milk, and took out my book to
read while I rested, and quite forgot where I was. Suddenly I heard
somebody steal into the room, tiptoe up, and stand behind me. I kept
quite still, but on the watch, for I felt all was not right. As I
looked into my spectacles I saw who it was that was so near me. Often
in church I see the person who is standing behind me. I don't know how
it is, but I do, as if my spectacles were a looking-glass. I didn't
like the sly, bad face right before my eyes. I could not help seeing
it between me and the book, and I knew it was the lad who had hired the
boat. In a second an arm was stretched forward towards the boy who was
sitting very near me, the other side of the corner of the table, and a
little yellow parcel was tucked into the pocket of his great-coat. I
had nothing to say in the matter, and did not let on that I noticed it.
It might be some young folks' frolic. I am not used to meddle in other
people's business, but I generally know what goes on round me. The
face went out of my spectacles, and the door shut quietly. I finished
my reading and went out. Those boys I have not seen again to know them
till I meet the very same here."

"What were you reading?" asked the magistrate sternly.

"This book," said old Pelle, taking out his worn paper-covered "Thomas
a Kempis," and handing it to the gentleman, who returned it without a
word, but ordered the wet clothes of the boys to be brought in. "I
don't know those things, surely," said Pelle, pointing to the larger
suit, "but should say that might be the leather apron the younger boy
had on. I couldn't be sure either of the coat, but the striped shirt
is just like the wrist-band that showed as the boy ha