rk all the better if you take some exercise."

But for a week nothing could tempt him out. Then, instead of
accompanying his father or mother, he would take long solitary rides on
his own pony, brooding all the while over his troubles.

One day, when in the course of one of these expeditions he had taken the
direction of Maltby--which was only fifteen miles distant from his
home--he became suddenly aware of an approaching dog-cart in the road
before him, and a familiar voice crying, "Why, if it ain't young Squire
Loman, riding a bit of very tidy horseflesh too, as I'm a Dutchman!"

It was Cripps. What evil spirit could have brought him on the scene
now?

"Well, I never reckoned to see you now," said he, in his usual jaunty
manner. "Fact is, I was just trotting over to see _you_. I wanted to
try what this here cob was made of, and, thinks I, I may as well kill
two birds with one stone, and look up my young squire while I'm about
it."

"Coming to see me!" exclaimed Loman, horrified. "I say, Cripps, you
mustn't do that. My father would be very angry, you know."

"Nice, that is! As if I wasn't as good company as any one else!"

"Oh! it's not that," said Loman, fearing he had given offence. "What I
mean is--"

"Oh, I know--about that there rod. Bless me! I won't let out on you,
my beauty--leastways, if you come up to scratch. He'd like to hear the
story, though, the old gentleman, I fancy. Wouldn't he now?"

"I wouldn't have him know it for worlds. It'll be all right, Cripps,
indeed it will about the money."

Mr Cripps looked very benignant.

"All right, young swell, I hope it will. Funny I feel such an interest
in you, 'specially since that young greeny friend of yours put in a word
for you. He's a real nice sort, he is--he owes you one, and no
mistake."

"What!" said Loman, in surprise; "who do you mean? Young Greenfield?"

"To be sure. Regular young chum of mine, he is. I know all about you,
my master, and no mistake!"

"What--the young sneak? What has he been saying about me?"

"Eh!--what ain't he been saying! In course you didn't half murder him,
eh? In course you ain't a good hand at cheatin' all round up at the
school! What? In course you ain't saying nice things agin me all over
the place--and in course some of us wouldn't like to see you get a
reg'lar good hiding, wouldn't we? Bless you, I knows all about it; but
I'm mum, never fear!" Loman was furious.

"The young liar!"