on his mind
ever since."

"Did he tell you of it?" asked the doctor.

"No, I found it out accidentally. When I spoke to him about it he
admitted it and seemed very sorry."

"And why did he not come to me himself at once?"

"That's just it, sir," said the captain. "I advised him to do it, and
he told me he had promised the--the companions with whom he went never
to mention the matter to anybody, and this prevented his coming. He
even went to them, and begged them to let him off the promise so that he
might come and confess to you, but he did not succeed."

"Did he ask you, then, to come and tell me?"

"No, sir. But he is in constant dread of your hearing about it from any
one else, so that I thought it would be the best thing to tell you of it
myself."

The doctor nodded his head.

"He does not know, of course, of your doing this?"

"Oh no, sir."

"And who were the companions who you say took him to this place?"

Riddell coloured up and felt very uncomfortable.

"Do you mind me not telling you, sir?" he said. "Wyndham only wanted
you to know about his part in it. I'll tell you if you wish," added he,
"but I'd rather not if you do not mind."

"You need not do so at present," said the doctor, greatly to the
captain's relief, "but you had better send Wyndham to me."

"Yes, sir," said Riddell, turning to go, but lingering for one final
word. "I hope, sir--you--that is, if you can--you will take a lenient
view of it. Young Wyndham's very steady now."

"I must see Wyndham before I can decide," said the doctor, "but you have
acted rightly in the matter--quite rightly."

The captain went to find Wyndham, hoping for the best, but decidedly
anxious.

That young gentleman was engaged in the agonies of Euclid when the
school messenger entered, and announced that the doctor wanted to see
him at once. His face fell, and his heart beat fast as he heard the
summons. It needed not much effort to guess what it all meant. Gilks
and Silk had of course been up before the doctor, and the latter had
carried out the threat of which Riddell had told him; and now he was
summoned to hear his fate!

At the schoolhouse door he found Riddell waiting for him.

"Oh, Riddell, I say!" exclaimed he, in tones of misery, "I've to go to
the doctor at once. Silk has told about me. I say, do come with me."

"Silk hasn't told about you at all," said the captain; "I've reported
you myself."

"You!" cried Wyndham, in tones