ared to have a good deal of money in his possession.
He spent more than he had ever before done. Certainly, in two or more
instances it was by giving it in charity. He bought also a microscope
and some books, which another boy said that he had heard him remark he
wished to have, but had not the money to buy them. These of themselves
were suspicious circumstances; and many said that they thought Ellis
must have taken the money. Some days afterwards suspicion grew into
certainty when, on the master ordering all the boys to get up from their
seats, that the school desks might be examined, a purse was found in
Ellis's, which on being held up was claimed by Arden as that which had
held his money. Ellis appeared to be struck dumb when he heard this.
He stammered out that he had that very morning picked up the purse in
the road near a hedge, and that he had intended going round to discover
whether it belonged to any of the boys at the school. As it was empty,
he knew that it would not be of much consequence, and that he had
forgotten to make the inquiries he proposed. Of course everybody
believed this to be a very lame defence; but the master inquired into
the matter, and to the surprise of the boys said that he was satisfied,
and that Ellis had fully accounted to him for the way he had become
possessed of the money and the purse. The boys seemed to think that the
master was more easily satisfied than he ought to have been, because he
did not want to lose a pupil; at all events, Ellis was looked upon as a
thief, and sent to Coventry. This treatment affected his health, and he
was soon afterwards removed by his friends from the school. That is all
I know about the matter."

"I am glad we did not ask him to play football," exclaimed Buttar. "The
story is a very ugly one. I do not like the look of things."

Ernest gave a look of reproach at Buttar. "I am far from convinced that
poor Ellis was guilty of the theft imputed to him," he remarked;
"knowing him as I do, and as you ought to know him, Buttar, he acted on
the occasion just as I should have expected him to do. However, while
such stories are going about, it is certainly better for his sake and
ours that he should not play in any of our games."

"Certainly," said Selby. "If he cannot offer us a proper explanation, I
for one should object to play with him. But never mind him at present.
It is high time that we should get ready for our game. Have you
prepare