und out. If Blake is such
a dishonest man, he may send in the same bill again."

"Dermot said he should make him give a receipt for the money. No,
Janie! You don't quite grasp the case. You've no brothers of your own,
so how can you understand boys?"

"Then couldn't you have asked your father?" pleaded Janie desperately.
"It seems--please don't be offended!--not quite straight to be
suppressing the whole affair like this."

"You don't know my father, or you wouldn't suggest it. He can be very
stern, particularly with the boys. They always say he's more of a
martinet at home than ever he was in the Army. Yes, I know you tell
your mother everything, but mothers are much more lenient than fathers.
I'd tell mine, if she weren't ill. It's no use arguing, Janie! I'm
sorry if it isn't all on the square, but Dermot was in a very tight
place, and I felt bound to help him, even if I had to do something
rather wrong."

CHAPTER XV

Sent to Coventry

Though Honor had seen nobody, either in leaving or re-entering St.
Chad's, her morning adventure had not been so entirely unobserved as
she imagined. Vivian Holmes, who was a light sleeper, had awakened by
the unfortunate creak that had been made by the stairs. Always mindful
of her duties as monitress, she had jumped up and cautiously opened her
door, and was just in time to peep over the banisters and catch a
glimpse of Honor's back disappearing down the hall. She hurriedly
returned to put on her dressing-gown and bedroom slippers, then
followed as rapidly as she could. When she arrived downstairs, she
found the French window leading into the garden open; but Honor was
well round the corner, and running fast towards the cricket field.
Vivian was very much disturbed and distressed. She scarcely knew what
she ought to do. She ventured a little way into the grounds, but not a
trace of any truant was to be seen, so she thought it useless to search
far. One of the girls must have gone out; on that point she was
absolutely certain.

"I'm almost positive it was Honor Fitzgerald," she said to herself. "It
looked exactly like her, although I only saw her back for a moment."

Vivian was extremely conscientious, and felt personally responsible for
all under her charge at St. Chad's. She was apt to err on the side of
severity, but she honestly strove to do her duty, and to see that the
rules were duly kept. In this case, however, she was in a difficulty.
There was no rule to pr