"I didn't think it was stealing. I was almost sure it wasn't. I thought if I took it from the outside part of the heap, perhaps it would be. But in the middle I thought I could fairly count it only mining. It'll take thousands of years for you to burn up all that coal and get to the middle parts."
"Not quite. But did you do it for a lark or what?"
"Not much lark carrying that beastly heavy stuff up the hill." Said Peter indignantly.
"Then why did you?" The Station Master's voice was so much kinder now that Peter replied:
"You know that wet day? Well, Mother said we were too poor to have a fire. We always had fires when it was cold at out other house, and -"
"Don't!" interrupted Bobbie, in a whisper.
"Well," said the Station Master, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll look over it this once. But you remember, young gentleman, stealing is stealing, and what's mine isn't yours, whether you call it mining or whether you don't. Run along home."