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。