Dan tried to meet his eyes , but could not ; his own fell , and he sat biting his lips , getting redder and redder till he was the picture of shame . `` What is it ? '' asked Mrs. Bhaer , anxiously . `` I should have preferred to talk about this in private , but Demi has spoilt that plan , so I may as well have it out now , '' said Mr. Bhaer , looking a little stern , as he always did when any meanness or deceit came up for judgment . `` The note is from Mrs. Bates , and she says that her boy Jimmy told her he bought this book of Dan last Saturday . She saw that it was worth much more than a dollar , and thinking there was some mistake , has sent it to me . Did you sell it , Dan ? '' `` Yes , sir , '' was the slow answer . `` Why ? '' `` Wanted money . '' `` For what ? '' `` To pay somebody . '' `` To whom did you owe it ? '' `` Tommy . '' `` Never borrowed a cent of me in his life , '' cried Tommy , looked scared , for he guessed what was coming now , and felt that on the whole he would have preferred witchcraft , for he admired Dan immensely . `` Perhaps he took it , '' cried Ned , who owed Dan a grudge for the ducking , and , being a mortal boy , liked to pay it off . `` O Dan ! '' cried Nat , clasping his hands , regardless of the bread and butter in them . `` It is a hard thing to do , but I must have this settled , for I can not have you watching each other like detectives , and the whole school disturbed in this way , did you put that dollar in the barn this morning ? '' asked Mr. Bhaer .
Dan XXXXX him straight in the face , and answered steadily , `` Yes , I did . ''
admired bought cried disturbed guessed looked owed pay settled told