to give me tick for a little longer, but he was as surly as
a bear, and threatened that if I didn't turn up with the money by
Wednesday, he'd send in the bill to the Head."

"I suppose that would mean a big row?"

"Simply terrific! You see, the kennels are out of bounds; besides
which, we've all been warned we're to have nothing to do with Blake.
The Head said he was a rascal, and any fellow who went to his place
would do so at the risk of expulsion. I was an idiot to let myself get
mixed up in such a business, but Roper, and Graveson, and several
others had dogs, and I was so taken with that black spaniel! I thought
and schemed how I could find a way out of it. I didn't dare to write
home to the Mater: if she's well enough to read her own letters, she'd
be in quite a nervous state of mind about it; and if she's ill, then
the governor will open them all for her, and you know what he'd say!"

"It would be as bad as when I bought Firefly," replied Honor. "He was
most fearfully angry that time."

"And he'd be harder on me than on you, because you're a girl. He
couldn't thrash you, however much he might scold you. I've had a little
experience of his hunting-crop before, and it's not exactly pleasant."

"Yes, I remember--when you took the cartridges out of his gun
cupboard."

"Well, I say, Honor, I mustn't stay here too long; I've got to be back
before anyone's about the place, you know."

"Did you get off all right?"

"Oh, yes! I dropped out of the dormitory window on to a piece of roof
near, and let myself down by the spout. It was quite simple."

"How about climbing up again?"

"Easy as A B C."

"Well, here's the pound, at any rate."

"Thanks immensely! How is it you're so flush of cash?"

"I'm not. I've hardly any of my pocket-money left. This is my Jubilee
sovereign."

"Not the one Uncle Murtagh gave you?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Honor, I am sorry! I scarcely like to take it."

"Don't be absurd! You must!"

"But you had the thing as a locket, and vowed you'd never part with
it."

"It can't be helped. Vows are sometimes better broken. Uncle Murtagh
told me to keep it until I happened to want it very badly, and I'm sure
we need it to-day."

"Well, I do, at any rate, though it seems rather a swindle to
commandeer your particular, pet treasure. I'll have to borrow it now,
I'm afraid; but I'll get you another some time, I promise you
faithfully."

"I don't care in the least, so long as you get out of this