on
with your reading, and the prospect of examination is getting
uncomfortably distinct. I hear from Mr Cookson that you have been
mugging lately, just as I have. Well, you will not lose much time, and
you will find yourself all the clearer for lying fallow a little. And
look here, I am a little more forward than you, and if you will come and
stay with us in the holidays I will read with you; I think I could help
you a bit. My mother would be very glad to see you. Or if that can't
be, I'll come to you. I am sure we could more than make up for any lost
time."

Edwards was able to sit up now, and Crawley read amusing books, and
played games with him whenever he could leave school or pupil-room.

"What a kind chap you are!" said Edwards with a broken voice, and with
water in his eyes, for he was very weak and nervous; "I--I don't deserve
it."

"Not?" exclaimed Crawley. "Why, surely I ought to do what I can, when
it is my fault that you got hurt. I am most unlucky this term; I get
robbed, and am suspected of inventing the story of it to cover my
misappropriation of the money; and then I wind up with breaking a
fellow's ribs!"

"No one thinks for a moment that you were not robbed as you say; I am
certain of it!" cried Edwards.

"I don't know about that; some of them said they did, and I would give
anything to prove that they did me wrong. It will stick in my gizzard a
long time, I can tell you."

Edwards buried his face in his hands and fairly sobbed.

"I can bear it no longer," he cried at last. "You so kind to me and
all! I know who robbed you."

"You!" exclaimed Crawley, thinking the boy had gone delirious again.

"Yes, I," repeated Edwards. "I did not see it done, and he never told
me he had done it, but I know he did, and--and, I profited by the money
and never said anything."

"Come, come, Edwards, you are ill and weak, and exciting yourself too
much. We will talk about this another time."

"No, no, now; I must speak; it is killing me."

And then he rapidly told the whole story; how Saurin and he had gambled
and lost, and the peril they had brought themselves into; and how Saurin
had gone that fatal Saturday afternoon to try and borrow money of
Gould--all he knew, in short.

"Saurin!" said Crawley, when he had heard all. "I never thought very
much of him, but I had no idea he was so bad as that. But don't you
fret, Edwards; you were put in a very queer position, and nobody could
say wh