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“I suppose mother caught a glimpse of him, and very likely she didn’t have on her glasses, and can’t see very well without them, and she thought he was Willy. She was changing her dress, too, and I dare say only opened the door a little way. Then the Hammond boy’s got a grandfather, and the shoes and the whole thing hung together.

“Mr. Hammond said he meant to have brought the bundle back before, but they had company come the next day, and it was overlooked.

“Father and mother both came running over the minute they heard of it, and nothing would suit Annie but we should start right off on the night train, and come down here and explain. And, to tell the truth, I wanted to come myself–I felt as if we owed it to the poor little chappie.”

Uncle Frank’s own voice sounded husky. The thought of all the suffering that poor little innocent boy had borne was not a pleasant one.

Everything that could be done to atone to Willy was done. He was loved and praised and petted, as he had never been before; in a little while he seemed as well and happy as ever.

The next Christmas Grandpa Perry sent a beautiful little gold watch to him, and he was so delighted with it that his father said, “He doesn’t worry a bit now about the trouble he had in Exeter. That watch doesn’t seem to bring it to mind at all. How quickly children get over things. He has forgotten all about it.”

But Willy Norton had not forgotten all about it. He was just as happy as ever. He had entirely forgiven Grandma Perry for her mistake. Next summer he was going to Exeter again and have a beautiful time; but a good many years would pass, and whenever he looked at that little gold watch, he would see double. It would have for him a background of his grandfather’s best coat.

Innocence and truth can feel the shadow of unjust suspicion when others can no longer see it.