eally couldn't bear to be in the school while they were treating you so
shamefully!"

"Where have you been, Hawkesbury?" said Mr Ladislaw.

"Oh! I went out in hopes of being able to--"

"You have told no one of what has occurred?" said Mr Ladislaw, sternly.

"Oh, no!" said the smiling Hawkesbury; "I really went out because I
couldn't bear to be in the school and be unable to do anything for you
and Miss Henniker. I _am_ so glad you have got out!"

None of us had the spirit to protest. We could see that Hawkesbury's
statement, and his expressed joy at their liberation, had gone down both
with Mr Ladislaw and Miss Henniker--and at our expense, too; and yet we
dared not expostulate or do ourselves justice.

Afternoon school went on, and still no Smith appeared. Was he locked up
in the coal-hole or in one of the attics up stairs? I wondered; or had
he been given into custody, or what? No solution came to the mystery
all that afternoon or evening. We worked silently on, conscious that
the Henniker's eyes were upon us, but aware that she neither spoke nor
interfered with us.

Bedtime came at last, and, in strange trouble and anxiety, I went up. I
almost made up my mind to ask Mr Hashford or Mr Ladislaw what had
become of Smith, but I could not screw my courage up to the pitch.

As I was undressing, Hawkesbury came near me and whispered, "Where is
Smith?"

I vouchsafed no reply. I had been used to give Hawkesbury credit for
good intentions, but I had had my confidence shaken by that day's
events.

"Don't be cross with me, Batchelor," said he; "I really don't deserve
it."

"Why did you desert and leave us all in the lurch?" growled I.

"I did not mean to do it," said he, very meekly; "but really, when I
woke this morning I felt I was doing wrong, Batchelor, and could not
bear to stay in and stand by while Mr Ladislaw and Miss Henniker were
kept shut up. That's really the reason, and I thought it would be
kinder of me to keep out of the way and not spoil your fun. Smith quite
misunderstood me, he did really."

"Why didn't you say you wouldn't join before we began?" I asked.

"Why, because you know, Batchelor, I was in a bad frame of mind then,
and was angry. But I tried hard to forgive, and I blame myself very
much that I even seemed to agree. You mustn't think too hardly of me,
Batchelor."

I said nothing, but went on undressing, more perplexed than ever to know
what to think. Hawkesbury, after