Explore "On the Brink of a Chasm" by L.T. Meade on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mrs. Ives's appearance on the scene roused Clara. She questioned her mother eagerly. Very soon she had got to the bottom of the old woman's knowledge. Mrs. Ives completely exonerated the boy of having broken his word.
"There's not a more truthful nor a braver little chap in existence," she cried. "He were always a near telling me, dear lamb! The whole thing worrited him awful, but he never did tell, never. Because he had given his word to you, Clary, nothing would make him break it. I don't think red-hot irons would have wrung the truth from him, but he let it out in his sleep, bless him. He was restless, he had a bad headache. I gave him some quieting medicine, and he went to sleep in my arms, and in his sleep he began to talk and to mention the name of Pelham and Pelham Towers, and he cried out for some one called Dick and for a young lady of the name of Barbara.