Era un noi abandonat, sense amics, deia ell; ningú no l'estimava; quan descobrissin a quina resolució l'havien conduit, potser els recaria; havia fet per manera d'obrar bé i anar tirant, pero no l'hi havien consentit, i ja que no els convenia cap altra cosa sinó alliberar-se d'ell, que així fos: i que adhuc el carreguessin amb la culpa per les conseqüencies. Per que no havien de fer-ho?
He was a forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them blame _him_ for the consequences--why shouldn't they?