“Next time,” said his mother, “YOU be more careful. I shouldn’t like it if you came home with your collar torn off.”
“I don’t care, our mother; I never did it a-purpose.”
The boy was rather miserable at being reprimanded.
“No — well, you be more careful.”
William fled away, glad to be exonerated. And Mrs. Morel, who hated any bother with the neighbours, thought she would explain to Mrs. Anthony, and the business would be over.