I turned to go out.  Since that afternoon when the choice between good and evil came so plainly before me, I had been dilly-dallying at the spot where the two ways met.  The more I hesitated, the greater had become the desire to take the easier road.  And now in open rebellion against my scruples I stepped firmly upon it.  My reasoning was played out, and, as I walked back along the corridor, I felt like one released from irksome fetters.  Oh, it was good to be free!  At the same time, however, with the obstinacy of one who seeks to justify himself, I muttered:  “She might have written, I think, she might have written.”

Then a step sounded behind me, a hand touched my shoulder, so that my heart jumped like a startled frog, and Radley said: 

“Come and have a talk with me a minute.”

Sec.4

My mother had written, but not to her son.  The postman, who disappointed me, brought a graceful note to Radley: 

“I am most sorry for this trespass upon your time, and yet I have little hesitation in asking your help in a matter that concerns my son.  Rupert, in his talks during the holidays, so often mentions your name, that it is not difficult to see that he owes you a good deal.  Although he is too reserved to say so, I fancy he is quite devoted to you.  His postcard, which I enclose, will explain all.

     “May I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks, and of
     saying how grateful his father would have been for all that you
     are doing for our son?”

Radley, when we reached the privacy of his room, took up his favourite position of sitting on the edge of the table.  Before him stood I, all reasoning suspended.

“Well, how’s the cheating going on?” he asked.

“What ch—?”

“Stop!  Don’t say ‘What cheating?’ because that would be acting a lie.  I tell you what we’ll do.  We’ll wait a whole minute before you answer me.  We’ll collect our thoughts and think whether we’ll act straightly or crookedly.”  He took his watch off his chain and placed it upon the table beside him.  “Right, we’re off.”

As the seconds sped by I tried to find some excuses.  But, bewildered and sick, I could only wonder how he came to know of it all.  I had found no answer when I saw him replacing his watch on his chain.

“Well, Ray, how’s the cheating going on?”

“I didn’t think it exactly cheating.”

“Ray, don’t.”  Radley protruded and withdrew his lower jaw with irritation.  “You know it was cheating.  If you didn’t, why did you know what I was referring to?  Well, we’ll have another sixty seconds’ interval.  We must have time to think, or else we lie.”

Out came the watch again.  The pantomime of waiting in silence and of replacing the watch was re-enacted.  Then Radley, half smiling, as if he knew the worst was over, took up his question once more.