of mingled amazement and reproach; "oh,
why?"

"Wouldn't you sooner have had me do it than Silk?" asked Riddell.

The boy saw his meaning at once, and as usual flew from one extreme to
the other.

"Oh, of course! What a brute I was not to see it. Thanks awfully, old
man. What awful grief I should have come to if it hadn't been for you!"

"I don't know at all what view the doctor takes of the matter," said the
captain, gravely; "you had better not expect too much."

Wyndham groaned.

"If only I'm not expelled!" said he. "I suppose you can't come too?"

"No. The doctor wants to see you alone, I think."

"Well, here goes. By the way, of course, you didn't mention the other
fellows' names?" he added.

The manner in which he said this made Riddell feel doubly glad that the
doctor had not insisted on his telling.

"No--I didn't," he said.

And off went Wyndham, dismally, to the doctor's study.

It was an anxious morning for the captain. Wyndham had not returned
before first school was over, and Riddell felt he could not rest till he
knew his fate.

He told Bloomfield of his morning's proceedings, but even this new
friend's encouragement failed to shake off the suspense that weighed
upon him.

Presently when he could wait patiently no longer, it occurred to him
Wyndham might possibly have gone back to his study unobserved, and be
waiting there for him. So he went across to the schoolhouse to find
out.

But nearly all the studies in the schoolhouse, Wyndham's included, were
empty, as they almost always were at this hour of the day during summer;
and the captain was about to return, more uncomfortable than ever, to
the Big, when a door at the end of the passage opened, and some one
called his name.

It was Gilks, who, as he was dressed, had evidently recovered from his
indisposition earlier than was expected.

He beckoned as the captain looked round; and Riddell, inwardly wondering
when his work as a police-officer would cease, and he would be able to
retire again into private life, turned and entered his study.

Gilks shut the door carefully behind him. He had a haggard look about
him which may have been the result of his ailment, or may have been
caused by mental trouble, but which certainly was not the expression to
which the captain had been used.

"I'm to go to the doctor at four?" he asked.

"Yes. He put it off, as you were reported on the sick-list."

"Of course he thinks I was shamm