s the money, and he's a mean sneak. He says if I
don't pay up he'll let on about something that I'm trying to keep
dark. He really means it, too, and if it gets to the Head's ears I
shall be expelled. Can you possibly lend me anything? I'd have
written to the Mater, but I hear she has one of her bad attacks, so
it wouldn't do to upset her. As for the governor, he'd be furious
if he knew. He told me last term that if I ran into debt I needn't
trust to him to get me out of it, for he wouldn't stir a finger to
help me, and would give me a thrashing for my pains. He must not
know on any account. It is of no use writing to Brian or the
others, because it is so near the end of the term they're sure to
have no money left. Have you spent all yours? I am going to get up
before five o'clock to-morrow and climb out through the dormitory
window, and go along the shore to the beach below Chessington, just
by your bathing-place. Can you manage to do the same, and bring me
any cash you can gather? Perhaps Blake might take something on
account, if you haven't the whole. The janitor has promised to go
with this letter to St. Chad's; he says he thinks he can get it
smuggled in through his niece, who is a servant there. But he won't
have time to wait for an answer, so the only way to give me the
money is to meet me on the shore. I am awfully sorry to have to ask
you to do this, but it is the one chance I have left, and if you
knew what a hole I am in I think you would be sorry for me. I must
stop now. The bell is ringing.

"Your loving brother,

"DERMOT."

"Oh, Honor! Are you going?"

"Of course I am. I wouldn't fail Dermot at such a pinch. Luckily I have
the money too. I shall let myself out by the dressing-room window, and
climb over the fence at the end of the cricket field. It won't take
very long. I shall be back before any of the servants are stirring."

"But it's such a frightfully risky thing! Suppose you were caught,
you'd certainly get into a scrape."

"I shall have to take the risk. Dermot will get into a far worse scrape
if I don't go. I couldn't bear to think of him waiting for me on the
shore, and finding I never came. Hush, Janie! Please don't ask me any
more. I've made up my mind."

Honor had put on her tennis shoes, and now stole very softly out of the
room and down the passage. Janie went to bed again, though certa