He thought no one would find it out, but Tommy happened to see him, and when Emil spoke of it a day or two later, Tommy gave his evidence, and Mr. Bhaer heard it. School was over, and they were all standing about in the hall, and Mr. Bhaer had just sat down on the straw settee, to enjoy his frolic with Teddy; but when he heard Tommy, and saw Nat turn scarlet, and look at him with a frightened face, he put the little boy down, saying, “Go to thy mother, biibchen, I will come soon,” and taking Nat by the hand led him into the school, and shut the door.
The boys looked at one another in silence for a minute, then Tommy slipped out and peeping in at the half-closed blinds, beheld a sight that quite bewildered him. Mr. Bhaer had just taken down the long rule that hung over his desk, so seldom used that it was covered with dust.
“My eye! he’s going to come down heavy on Nat this time. Wish I had n’t told,” thought good natured Tommy, for to be feruled was the deepest disgrace at this school.
Tommy felt guilty for revealing what he had seen, as he knew that being punished with the ruler was a serious matter at their school. He watched from outside the classroom as Mr. Bhaer prepared to address Nat's misbehavior.
Inside the room, Mr. Bhaer looked at Nat with a stern expression. Nat's face was filled with fear and regret for what he had done. He knew that he had made a mistake and now he had to face the consequences.
As Mr. Bhaer raised the ruler, Tommy's heart sank. He hoped that maybe Mr. Bhaer would go easy on Nat, but deep down he knew that Nat needed to learn a lesson. Mr. Bhaer was known for his fairness and discipline, and he wouldn't let Nat off the hook easily.
However, just as Mr. Bhaer was about to bring the ruler down on Nat's hand, he paused. His firm expression softened as he looked into Nat's eyes. He put the ruler down and took a deep breath.
"Nat," Mr. Bhaer said calmly, "I am disappointed in your behavior. I thought I could trust you, but you have broken that trust. Do you understand the seriousness of what you have done?"
Nat nodded, his eyes filling with tears. He felt relieved that he wasn't going to be punished physically, but the disappointment in Mr. Bhaer's voice was enough to make him understand the gravity of his actions.
"Good," Mr. Bhaer continued. "I want you to think about what you've done and consider the consequences of your choices. I hope this will serve as a lesson for you to make better decisions in the future."
Tommy, still peering through the blinds, couldn't help but feel relieved. He was glad that Nat wasn't going to be physically punished, but he also knew that Mr. Bhaer's disappointment was a heavy burden to bear.
As Mr. Bhaer opened the door, Nat stepped out, his head hanging low. Tommy quickly moved away from the window, not wanting to be caught spying. He knew that he had done the right thing by telling Mr. Bhaer, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for revealing Nat's secret.