Mrs。Bhaerwasright；peacewasonlyatemporarylull，astormwasbrewing，andtwodaysafterBessleft，amoralearthquakeshookPlumfieldtoitscentre。
Tommy’shenswereatthebottomofthetrouble，foriftheyhadnotpersistedinlayingsomanyeggs，hecouldnothavesoldthemandmadesuchsums。Moneyistherootofallevil，andyetitissuchausefulrootthatwecannotgetonwithoutitanymorethanwecanwithoutpotatoes。
Tommycertainlycouldnot，forhespenthisincomesorecklessly，thatMr。Bhaerwasobligedtoinsistonasavings-bank，andpresentedhimwithaprivateone­；animposingtinedifice，withthenameoverthedoor，andatallchimney，downwhichthepenniesweretogo，theretorattletemptinglytillleavewasgiventoopenasortoftrap-doorinthefloor。
Thehouseincreasedinweightsorapidly，thatTommysoonbecamesatisfiedwithhisinvestment，andplannedtobuyunheard-oftreasureswithhiscapital。
Hekeptaccountofthesumsdeposited，andwaspromisedthathemightbreakthebankassoonashehadfivedollars，onconditionthathespentthemoneywisely。Onlyonedollarwasneeded，andthedayMrs。Jopaidhimforfourdozeneggs，hewassodelighted，thatheracedofftothebarntodisplaythebrightquarterstoNat，whowasalsolayingbymoneyforthelong-desiredviolin。
“IwishIhad’emtoputwithmythreedollars，thenI’dsoongetenoughtobuymyfiddle，“hesaid，lookingwistfullyatthemoney。
“P’rapsI’lllendyousome。Ihaven’tdecidedyetwhatI’lldowithmine，“saidTommy，tossinguphisquartersandcatchingthemastheyfell。
“Hi!boys!comedowntothebrookandseewhatajollygreatsnakeDan’sgot!“calledavoicefrombehindthebarn。
“Comeon，“saidTommy；and，layinghismoneyinsidetheoldwinnowingmachine，awayheran，followedbyNat。
Thesnakewasveryinteresting，andthenalongchaseafteralamecrow，anditscapture，soabsorbedTommy’smindandtime，thatheneverthoughtofhismoneytillhewassafelyinbedthatnight。
“Nevermind，noonebutNatknowswhereitis，“saidtheeasy-goinglad，andfellasleepuntroubledbyanyanxietyabouthisproperty。
Nextmorning，justastheboysassembledforschool，Tommyrushedintotheroombreathlessly，demanding，­；
“Isay，whohasgotmydollar？“
“Whatareyoutalkingabout？“askedFranz。
Tommyexplained，andNatcorroboratedhisstatement。
Everyoneelsedeclaredtheyknewnothingaboutit，andbegantolooksuspiciouslyatNat，whogotmoreandmorealarmedandconfusedwitheachdenial。
“Somebodymusthavetakenit，“saidFranz，asTommyshookhisfistatthewholeparty，andwrathfullydeclaredthat­；
“Bythunderturtles!ifIgetholdofthethief，I’llgivehimwhathewon’tforgetinahurry。“
“Keepcool，Tom；weshallfindhimout；thievesalwayscometogrief，“
saidDan，asonewhoknewsomethingofthematter。
“Maybesometrampsleptinthebarnandtookit，“suggestedNed。
“No，Silasdon’tallowthat；besides，atrampwouldn’tgolookinginthatoldmachineformoney，“saidEmil，withscorn。
“Wasn’titSilashimself？“saidJack。
“Well，Ilikethat!OldSiisashonestasdaylight。Youwouldn’tcatchhimtouchingapennyofours，“saidTommy，handsomelydefendinghischiefadmirerfromsuspicion。
“Whoeveritwashadbettertell，andnotwaittobefoundout，“saidDemi，lookingasifanawfulmisfortunehadbefallenthefamily。
“Iknowyouthinkit’sme，“brokeoutNat，redandexcited。
“Youaretheonlyonewhoknewwhereitwas，“saidFranz。
“Ican’thelpit­；Ididn’ttakeit。ItellyouIdidn’t­；Ididn’t!“
criedNat，inadesperatesortofway。
“Gently，gently，myson!Whatisallthisnoiseabout？“andMr。Bhaerwalkedinamongthem。
Tommyrepeatedthestoryofhisloss，and，ashelistened，Mr。Bhaer’sfacegrewgraverandgraver；for，withalltheirfaultsandfollies，theladstillnowhadbeenhonest。
“Takeyourseats，“hesaid；and，whenallwereintheirplaces，headdedslowly，ashiseyewentfromfacetofacewithagrievedlook，thatwashardertobearthanastormofwords，­；
“Now，boys，Ishallaskeachoneofyouasinglequestion，andIwantanhonestanswer。Iamnotgoingtotrytofrighten，bribe，orsurprisethetruthoutofyou，foreveryoneofyouhavegotaconscience，andknowwhatitisfor。NowisthetimetoundothewrongdonetoTommy，andsetyourselvesrightbeforeusall。IcanforgivetheyieldingtosuddentemptationmucheasierthanIcandeceit。Don’taddalietothetheft，butconfessfrankly，andwewillalltrytohelpyoumakeusforgetandforgive。“
Hepausedamoment，andonemighthaveheardapindrop，theroomwassostill；thenslowlyandimpressivelyheputthequestiontoeachone，receivingthesameanswerinvaryingtonesfromall。Everyfacewasflushedandexcited，sothatMr。Bhaercouldnottakecolorasawitness，andsomeofthelittleboysweresofrightenedthattheystammeredoverthetwoshortwordsasifguilty，thoughitwasevidentthattheycouldnotbe。
WhenhecametoNat，hisvoicesoftened，forthepoorladlookedsowretched，Mr。Bhaerfeltforhim。Hebelievedhimtobetheculprit，andhopedtosavetheboyfromanotherlie，bywinninghimtotellthetruthwithoutfear。
“Now，myson，givemeanhonestanswer。Didyoutakethemoney？“
“No，sir!“andNatlookedupathimimploringly。
Asthewordsfellfromhistremblinglips，somebodyhissed。
“Stopthat!“criedMr。Bhaer，withasharpraponhisdesk，ashelookedsternlytowardthecornerwhencethesoundcame。
Ned，Jack，andEmilsatthere，andthefirsttwolookedashamedofthemselves，butEmilcalledout，­；
“Itwasn’tme，uncle!I’dbeashamedtohitafellowwhenheisdown。“
“Goodforyou!“criedTommy，whowasinasadstateofafflictionatthetroublehisunluckydollarhadmade。
“Silence!“commandedMr。Bhaer；andwhenitcame，hesaidsoberly，­；
“Iamverysorry，Nat，butevidencesareagainstyou，andyouroldfaultmakesusmorereadytodoubtyouthanweshouldbeifwecouldtrustyouaswedosomeoftheboys，whoneverfib。Butmind，mychild，Idonotchargeyouwiththistheft；IshallnotpunishyouforittillIamperfectlysure，noraskanythingmoreaboutit。Ishallleaveitforyoutosettlewithyourownconscience。Ifyouareguilty，cometomeatanyhourofthedayornightandconfessit，andIwillforgiveandhelpyoutoamend。Ifyouareinnocent，thetruthwillappearsoonerorlater，andtheinstantitdoes，Iwillbethefirsttobegyourpardonfordoubtingyou，andwillsogladlydomybesttoclearyourcharacterbeforeusall。“
“Ididn’t!Ididn’t!“sobbedNat，withhisheaddownuponhisarms，forhecouldnotbearthelookofdistrustanddislikewhichhereadinthemanyeyesfixedonhim。
“Ihopenot。“Mr。Bhaerpausedaminute，asiftogivetheculprit，whoeverhemightbe，onemorechance。Nobodyspoke，however，andonlysniffsofsympathyfromsomeofthelittlefellowsbrokethesilence。Mr。Bhaershookhishead，andadded，regretfully，­；
“Thereisnothingmoretobedone，then，andIhavebutonethingtosay：Ishallnotspeakofthisagain，andIwishyoualltofollowmyexample。
Icannotexpectyoutofeelaskindlytowardanyonewhomyoususpectasbeforethishappened，butIdoexpectanddesirethatyouwillnottormentthesuspectedpersoninanyway，­；hewillhaveahardenoughtimewithoutthat。Nowgotoyourlessons。“
“FatherBhaerletNatofftooeasy，“mutteredNedtoEmil，astheygotouttheirbooks。
“Holdyourtongue，“growledEmil，whofeltthatthiseventwasablotuponthefamilyhonor。
ManyoftheboysagreedwithNed，butMr。Bhaerwasright，nevertheless；
andNatwouldhavebeenwisertoconfessonthespotandhavethetroubleover，foreventhehardestwhippingheeverreceivedfromhisfatherwasfareasiertobearthanthecoldlooks，theavoidance，andgeneralsuspicionthatmethimonallsides。IfeveraboywassenttoCoventryandkeptthere，itwaspoorNat；andhesufferedaweekofslowtorture，thoughnotahandwasraisedagainsthim，andhardlyawordsaid。
Thatwastheworstofit；iftheywouldonlyhavetalkeditout，orevenhavethrashedhimallround，hecouldhavestooditbetterthanthesilentdistrustthatmadeveryfacesoterribletomeet。EvenMrs。Bhaer’sshowedtracesofit，thoughhermannerwasnearlyaskindasever；butthesorrowfulanxiouslookinFatherBhaer’seyescutNattotheheart，forhelovedhisteacherdearly，andknewthathehaddisappointedallhishopesbythisdoublesin。
Onlyonepersoninthehouseentirelybelievedinhim，andstoodupforhimstoutlyagainstalltherest。ThiswasDaisy。Shecouldnotexplainwhyshetrustedhimagainstallappearances，sheonlyfeltthatshecouldnotdoubthim，andherwarmsympathymadeherstrongtotakehispart。
Shewouldnothearawordagainsthimfromanyone，andactuallyslappedherbelovedDemiwhenhetriedtoconvinceherthatitmusthavebeenNat，becausenooneelseknewwherethemoneywas。
“Maybethehensateit；theyaregreedyoldthings，“shesaid；andwhenDemilaughed，shelosthertemper，slappedtheamazedboy，andthenburstoutcryingandranaway，stilldeclaring，“Hedidn’t!hedidn’t!hedidn’t!“
Neitherauntnoruncletriedtoshakethechild’sfaithinherfriend，butonlyhopedherinnocentinstinctmightprovesure，andlovedherallthebetterforit。Natoftensaid，afteritwasover，thathecouldn’thavestoodit，ifithadnotbeenforDaisy。Whentheothersshunnedhim，sheclungtohimcloserthanever，andturnedherbackontherest。Shedidnotsitonthestairsnowwhenhesolacedhimselfwiththeoldfiddle，butwentinandsatbesidehim，listeningwithafacesofullofconfidenceandaffection，thatNatforgotdisgraceforatime，andwashappy。Sheaskedhimtohelpherwithherlessons，shecookedhimmarvelousmessesinherkitchen，whichheatemanfully，nomatterwhattheywere，forgratitudegaveasweetflavortothemostdistasteful。Sheproposedimpossiblegamesofcricketandball，whenshefoundthatheshrankfromjoiningtheotherboys。Sheputlittlenosegaysfromhergardenonhisdesk，andtriedineverywaytoshowthatshewasnotafair-weatherfriend，butfaithfulthroughevilaswellasgoodrepute。Nansoonfollowedherexample，inkindnessatleast；curbedhersharptongue，andkeptherscornfullittlenosefromanydemonstrationofdoubtordislike，whichwasgoodofMadameGiddy-gaddy，forshefirmlybelievedthatNattookthemoney。
Mostoftheboyslethimseverelyalone，butDan，thoughhesaidhedespisedhimforbeingacoward，watchedoverhimwithagrimsortofprotection，andpromptlycuffedanyladwhodaredtomolesthismateormakehimafraid。
HisideaoffriendshipwasashighasDaisy’s，and，inhisownroughway，heliveduptoitasloyally。
Sittingbythebrookoneafternoon，absorbedinthestudyofthedomestichabitsofwater-spiders，heoverheardabitofconversationontheothersideofthewall。Ned，whowasintenselyinquisitive，hadbeenontenterhookstoknowcertainlywhowastheculprit；foroflateoneortwooftheboyshadbeguntothinkthattheywerewrong，Natwassosteadfastinhisdenials，andsomeekinhisenduranceoftheirneglect。ThisdoubthadteasedNedpastbearing，andhehadseveraltimesprivatelybesetNatwithquestions，regardlessofMr。Bhaer’sexpresscommand。FindingNatreadingaloneontheshadysideofthewall，Nedcouldnotresiststoppingforanibbleattheforbiddensubject。HehadworriedNatforsometenminutesbeforeDanarrived，andthefirstwordsthespider-studentheardwerethese，inNat’spatient，pleadingvoice，­；
“Don’t，Ned!oh，don’t!Ican’ttellyoubecauseIdon’tknow，andit’smeanofyoutokeepnaggingatmeonthesly，whenFatherBhaertoldyounottoplagueme。Youwouldn’tdaretoifDanwasround。“
“Iain’tafraidofDan；he’snothingbutanoldbully。Don’tbelievebutwhathetookTom’smoney，andyouknowit，andwon’ttell。Come，now!“
“Hedidn’t，but，ifhedid，Iwouldstandupforhim，hehasalwaysbeensogoodtome，“saidNat，soearnestlythatDanforgothisspiders，androsequicklytothankhim，butNed’snextwordsarrestedhim。
“IknowDandidit，andgavethemoneytoyou。Shouldn’twonderifhegothislivingpickingpocketsbeforehecamehere，fornobodyknowsanythingabouthimbutyou，“saidNed，notbelievinghisownwords，buthopingtogetthetruthoutofNatbymakinghimangry。
Hesucceededinapartofhisungenerouswish，forNatcriedout，fiercely，­；
“IfyousaythatagainI’llgoandtellMr。Bhaerallaboutit。Idon’twanttotelltales，but，byGeorge!Iwill，ifyoudon’tletDanalone。“
“Thenyou’llbeasneak，aswellasaliarandathief，“beganNed，withajeer，forNathadborneinsulttohimselfsomeekly，theotherdidnotbelievehewoulddaretofacethemasterjusttostandupforDan。
WhathemighthaveaddedIcannottell，forthewordswerehardlyoutofhismouthwhenalongarmfrombehindtookhimbythecollar，and，jerkinghimoverthewallinamostpromiscuousway，landedhimwithasplashinthemiddleofthebrook。
“SaythatagainandI’llduckyoutillyoucan’tsee!“criedDan，lookinglikeamodernColossusofRhodesashestood，withafootoneithersideofthenarrowstream，glaringdownatthediscomfitedyouthinthewater。