er fellows who had tried to stop him, or
he might have run round him. Instead of that,"--and here the speaker's
voice trembled with indignation--"he charged dead at him, and ran right
over him."

Mr Frampton's face clouded over.

"Jeffreys is a clumsy fellow, is he not?" he asked.

"Yes," said Scarfe; "and if it had been any one else than Forrester, we
should all have put it down to his stupidity."

"You mean," said the head-master, "that he had a quarrel with
Forrester?"

"He hated Forrester. Every one knew that. Forrester used to make fun
of him and enrage him."

"And you mean to tell me you believe this big boy of nineteen, out of
revenge, deliberately ran over young Forrester in the way you describe?"

"I'm sure of it, sir," said Farfield unhesitatingly.

"No one doubts it," said Scarfe.

Mr Frampton took an uneasy turn up and down the room. He hated tale-
bearers; but this seemed a case in which he was bound to listen and
inquire further.

"Scarfe and Farfield," said he, after a long pause, "you know of course
as well as I do the nature of the charge you are bringing against your
schoolfellow--the most awful charge one human being can bring against
another. Are you prepared to repeat all you have said to me in
Jeffreys' presence to-morrow, and before the whole school?"

"Certainly, sir," said both boys.

"It was our duty to tell you, sir," said Scarfe; "and only fair to poor
young Forrester."

"Nothing less than a sense of duty could justify the bringing of such a
terrible accusation," said the head-master, "and I am relieved that you
are prepared to repeat it publicly--to-morrow. For to-day, let us thank
God for the hope He gives us of the poor sufferer. Good-bye."

Much as he could have wished it, it was impossible for Mr Frampton,
wearied out as he was with his night's watching, to dismiss from his
mind the serious statement which his two senior boys had made. The
responsibility which rested on him in consequence was terrible, and it
required all his courage to face it.

That afternoon he sent for Mr Freshfield, and repeated to him the
substance of the accusation against Jeffreys, asking him if he had
noticed anything calculated to confirm the suspicion expressed by the
boys.

Mr Freshfield was naturally very much startled.

"If you had not mentioned it," he said, "I should never have dreamed of
such a thing. But I confess I have noticed that Forrester and Jeffreys
were on bad ter