CHAPTERXII。
Themasterawokethenextmorning，albeitafterarestlessnight，withthatclarityofconscienceandperceptionwhichitistobefearedismoreoftentheconsequenceofyouthandaperfectcirculationthanofanymoralconvictionorintegrity。Hearguedwithhimselfthatastheonlypartyreallyaggrievedintheincidentofthepreviousnight，therightofremedyremainedwithhimsolely，andunderthebenigninfluenceofanearlybreakfastandthefreshmorningairhewasinclinedtofeellesssternlyeventowardsSethDavis。Inanyevent，hemustfirstcarefullyweightheevidenceagainsthim，andexaminethesceneoftheoutrageclosely。Forthispurpose，hehadstartedfortheschool-housefullyanhourbeforehisusualtime。Hewasevenlight-heartedenoughtorecognizethehumorousaspectofUncleBen’sappealtohim，andhisownludicrouslyparadoxicalattitude，andasheatlastpassedfromthedrearyflatintothefringeofuplandpines，hewassmiling。Wellforhim，perhaps，thathewasnomoreaffectedbyanypremonitionofthedaybeforehimthanthelatelyawakenedbirdsthatlightlycutthestillsleepingwoodsaroundhimintheirlongflashingsabre-curvesofflight。Ayellow-throat，destinedtobecomethebreakfastofalazyhawkstillswingingabovetheriver，wasespeciallymovedtosuchacauselessandidioticrouladeofmirththatthemasterlisteningtothefoolishbirdwasfaintowhistletoo。Hepresentlystopped，however，withaslightembarrassment。ForafewpacesbeforehimCressyhadunexpectedlyappeared。
Shehadevidentlybeenwatchingforhim。Butnotwithherusualindolentconfidence。Therewasastrainedlookofthemusclesofhermouth，asofsomepastrepression，andashadedhollowunderhertemplesbeneaththeblonderingsofhershorterhair。Herhabituallyslow，steadyeyewastroubled，andshecastafurtiveglancearoundherbeforeshesearchedhimwithherglance。Withoutknowingwhy，yetvaguelyfearingthathedid，hebecamestillmoreembarrassed，andintheveryegotismofawkwardness，stammeredwithoutafurthersalutation：\"Adisgracefulthinghashappenedlastnight，andI’mupearlytofindtheperpetrator。Mydeskwasbrokeninto，and\"——
\"Iknowit，\"sheinterrupted，withahalf-impatient，halfuneasyputtingawayofthesubjectwithherlittlehand——\"there——don’tgoalloveritagain。PawandMawhavebeenatmeaboutitallnight——
eversincethoseHarrisonsintheiranxiousnesstomakeuptheirquarrel，rushedoverwiththenews。I’mtiredofit！\"