of this, the hardened villain turned quite cross when he
saw his brother at the point of tears, and exclaimed, hurriedly, "Don't
make a young fool of yourself, Stee, whatever you do. It won't do a bit
of good."

"But, Noll, old man," pleaded the boy, "why ever don't you--"

"Because I don't choose, and it would be no use if I did," retorted the
other.

"But the fellows all suspect you!"

"I can't help that, if they do. Come now, Stee, we've had enough of
this. It'll all come right some day, you see, and meanwhile what do you
say to a turn in the gymnasium?"

"Well, but," persisted Stephen, not half satisfied, "you surely aren't
going to give mother's message to Wraysford? _I_ don't want him home at
Christmas."

"No one asked you if you did, you young duffer. But I don't think, all
the same, I shall give it just yet."

They were walking down the big passage arm-in-arm in the direction of
the gymnasium, and as Oliver spoke these last words the subject of their
conversation appeared advancing towards them.

Who could have believed that those three friends who only a month or two
ago were quoted all over Saint Dominic's as inseparables could ever meet
and pass one another as these three met and passed one another now?

Wraysford coloured as he caught sight of his old ally, and looked
another way. Oliver, more composed, kept his eyes fixed straight ahead,
and appeared to be completely unconscious of the presence of any one but
Stephen, who hung on to his arm, snorting and fuming and inwardly raging
like a young tiger held in by the chain from his prey.

An odd meeting indeed, and a miserable one; yet to none of the three so
miserable as to the injured Wraysford, who ever since the day of the
Nightingale examination had not known a happy hour at Saint Dominic's.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

MR CRIPPS AT SAINT DOMINIC'S.

Oliver Greenfield's banishment from civilised society, however much it
may have gratified the virtuous young gentlemen of the Fifth, was
regarded by a small section of fellows in the Sixth with unmitigated
disgust. These fellows were the leading spirits of the Saint Dominic
Football Club, which was just about to open proceedings for the season.
To them the loss of the best half-back in the school was a desperate
calamity.

They raged and raved over the matter with all the fury of disappointed
enthusiasts. _They_ didn't care a bit, it almost seemed, whether the
fellow was a cheat or n