“Hemademedothesamethingonce，“saidEmil，asifconfessingacrimeofthedeepestdye。
“Andyouhithim？dearoldFatherBhaer？Bythunder，I’djustliketoseeyoudoitnow!“saidNed，collaringEmilinafitofrighteouswrath。
“Itwaseversolongago。I’dratherhavemyheadcutoffthandoitnow，“andEmilmildlylaidNedonhisbackinsteadofcuffinghim，ashewouldhavefeltithisdutytodoonanylesssolemnoccasion。
“Howcouldyou？“saidDemi，appalledattheidea。
“Iwashoppingmadatthetime，andthoughtIshouldn’tmindabit，ratherlikeitperhaps。ButwhenI’dhituncleonegoodcrack，everythinghehadeverdoneformecameintomyheadallatoncesomehow，andIcouldn’tgoon。Nosir!Ifhe’dlaidmedownandwalkedonme，Iwouldn’thaveminded，Ifeltsomean，“andEmilgavehimselfagoodthumpinthechesttoexpresshissenseofremorseforthepast。