Besides , Danny , it 's the only right thing to do . You know that . We 're poor , but we have never done anything underhand yet . '' `` Yes , Mother , I know , '' said Dan , gulping his fear bravely down . `` I 'll go , of course , right after dinner . I was only scared at first . I 'll tell you what I 'll do . I 'll clean these trout nicely and take them to Mr. Walters , and tell him that , if he 'll only give me time , I 'll pay him back every cent of money I got for all I sold this summer . Then maybe he 'll let me off , seeing as I did n't know about the notice . '' `` I 'll go with you , Danny . '' `` No , I 'll go alone , Mother . You need n't go with me , '' said Dan heroically . To himself he said that his mother had troubles enough . He would never subject her to the added ordeal of an interview with the stern factory owner . He would beard the lion in his den himself , if it had to be done . `` Do n't tell Ella May anything about it . It would worry her . And do n't cry , Mother , I guess it 'll be all right . Let me have my dinner now and I 'll go straight off . '' Dan ate his dinner rapidly ; then he carefully cleaned his trout , put them in a long basket , with rhubarb leaves over them , and started with an assumed cheerfulness very far from his real feelings .
He had barely passed the gate when another boy came shuffling along -- a tall , raw-boned lad , XXXXX an insinuating smile and shifty , cunning eyes .
Besides To about after at for if in of with