at Mr. Ripton had departed against
his will.

In fact, Ripton had protested that he would defy his parent and remain
by his friend in the hour of adversity and at the post of danger. Sir
Austin signified his opinion that a boy should obey his parent, by
giving orders to Benson for Ripton's box to be packed and ready before
noon; and Ripton's alacrity in taking the baronet's view of filial duty
was as little feigned as his offer to Richard to throw filial duty to
the winds. He rejoiced that the Fates had agreed to remove him from the
very hot neighbourhood of Lobourne, while he grieved, like an honest
lad, to see his comrade left to face calamity alone. The boys parted
amicably, as they could hardly fail to do, when Ripton had sworn fealty
to the Feverals with a warmth that made him declare himself bond, and
due to appear at any stated hour and at any stated place to fight all
the farmers in England, on a mandate from the heir of the house.

"So you're left alone," said Austin, contemplating the boy's shapely
head. "I'm glad of it. We never know what's in us till we stand by
ourselves."

There appeared to be no answer forthcoming. Vanity, however, replied at
last, "He wasn't much support."

"Remember his good points now he's gone, Ricky."

"Oh! he was staunch," the boy grumbled.

"And a staunch friend is not always to be found. Now, have you tried
your own way of rectifying this business, Ricky?"

"I have done everything."

"And failed!"

There was a pause, and then the deep-toned evasion--

"Tom Bakewell's a coward!"

"I suppose, poor fellow," said Austin, in his kind way, "he doesn't want
to get into a deeper mess. I don't think he's a coward."

"He is a coward," cried Richard. "Do you think if I had a file I would
stay in prison? I'd be out the first night! And he might have had the
rope, too--a rope thick enough for a couple of men his size and weight.
Ripton and I and Ned Markham swung on it for an hour, and it didn't
give way. He's a coward, and deserves his fate. I've no compassion for a
coward."

"Nor I much," said Austin.

Richard had raised his head in the heat of his denunciation of poor Tom.
He would have hidden it had he known the thought in Austin's clear eyes
while he faced them.

"I never met a coward myself," Austin continued. "I have heard of one or
two. One let an innocent man die for him."

"How base!" exclaimed the boy.

"Yes, it was bad," Austin acquiesced.

"Bad!" Richard s