"You and I might help Katie get supper." "Not for a few minutes," Margaret returned gravely, looking at Penrod.
"Come upstairs, mamma; I want to tell you something." Penrod cackled hoarse triumph and defiance.
"Go on! Tell! What _'I_ care?
You try to poison a person in church again, and then laugh in his face, you'll see what you get!" But after his mother had retired with Margaret to the latter's room, he began to feel disturbed in spite of his firm belief that his cause was wholly that of justice victorious.

Margaret had insidious ways of stating a case; and her point of view, no matter how absurd or unjust, was almost always adopted by Mr.and Mrs.Schofield in cases of controversy.
Penrod became uneasy.

Perceiving himself to be in danger, he decided that certain measures were warranted.

Unquestionably, it would be well to know beforehand in what terms Margaret would couch the charges which he supposed he must face in open court--that is to say, at the supper-table.

He stole softly up the stairs, and, flattening himself against the wall, approached Margaret's door, which was about an inch ajar.
He heard his mother making sounds which appalled him--he took them for sobs.