really _will_ pay up then."

"You'd better, because, mind you, if you don't, I shall walk straight to
the governor. Don't make any mistake about that."

"Oh, yes, so you may," said the wretched Loman, willing to promise
anything in his eagerness.

Finally it was settled. Cripps was to wait three months longer; and
Loman, although knowing perfectly well that there was absolutely less
chance then of having the money than there had been now, felt a weight
temporarily taken off his mind, and was all gratitude.

Of course, he stayed a while as usual and tasted Mr Cripps's beer, and
of course he met again not a few of his new friends--sharpers, most of
them, of Cripps's own stamp, or green young gentlemen of the town, like
Loman himself. From one of the latter Loman had the extraordinary "good
luck" that afternoon to win three pounds over a wager, a sum which he at
once handed over to Cripps in the most virtuous way, in further
liquidation of his debt.

Indeed, as he left the place, and wandered slowly back to Saint
Dominic's, he felt quite encouraged.

"There's eight pounds of it paid right off," said he to himself; "and
before Christmas something is sure to turn up. Besides, I'm sure to get
some more money from home between now and then. Oh, it'll be all
right!"

So saying he tried to dismiss the matter from his mind and think of
pleasanter subjects, such, for instance, as Oliver's crime, and his own
clever use of it to delude the Sixth.

Things altogether were looking up with Loman. Cheating, lying, and
gambling looked as if they would pay after all!

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

AT COVENTRY.

Were you ever at Coventry, reader? I don't mean the quaint old
Warwickshire city, but that other place where from morning till night
you are shunned and avoided by everybody? Where friends with whom you
were once on the most intimate terms now pass you without a word, or
look another way as you go by? Where, whichever way you go, you find
yourself alone? Where every one you speak to is deaf, every one you
appear before is blind, every one you go near has business somewhere
else? Where you will be left undisturbed in your study for a week, to
fag for yourself, study by yourself, disport yourself with yourself?
Where in the playground you will be as solitary as if you were in the
desert, in school you will be a class by yourself, and even in church on
Sundays you will feel hopelessly out in the cold among your
fe