ol! the idiot! to run away like a coward instead of facing it
out; and not a line or a message has he sent to me. Did you know, sir,
that your cousin was going to run away?"

Fred hesitated.

"Yes, uncle, I knew that he was going, and did my best to dissuade him,
but it was useless."

Captain Bayley walked up and down the room with quick steps, uttering
exclamations testifying his anger and annoyance.

"Has he got any money?" he said suddenly, halting before Fred. "Did he
get any money from you?"

Fred hesitated again, and then said.

"Well, uncle, since you insist upon knowing, I did let him have twenty
pounds which I got for the sale of my books."

"I believe, sir," the old officer said furiously, "that you encouraged
him in this step, a step which I consider fatal to him."

Fred hesitated again, and then said.

"Well, uncle, I am sorry that you should be so angry about it, but I own
that I did not throw any obstacle in the way."

"You did not, sir," Captain Bayley roared, "and why did you not? Are you
a fool too? Don't you see that this running away instead of facing
matters out cannot but be considered, by people who do not know Frank,
as a proof of his guilt, a confession that he did not dare to stay to
face his accusers?"

Fred was silent.

"Answer me, sir," Captain Bayley said; "don't stand there without a word
to explain your conduct. Do you or do you not see that this cowardly
flight will look like a confession of guilt?"

"I did see that, uncle," Fred said, "but I thought that better than a
public expulsion."

"Oh! you did, did you?" his uncle said sarcastically, "when you knew
that if he had stopped quietly at home we should have proved his
innocence in less than no time."

Fred made no reply.

"Do you think we shouldn't have proved his innocence?" roared his uncle.

"I am sorry to say anything which is displeasing to you, uncle, but I
fear that you would never have proved Frank's innocence."

The words seemed to have a sobering effect on Captain Bayley. The blood
seemed to die out of his face; he put one hand on a chair, as if to
steady himself, while he looked fixedly in his nephew's face.

"Do you mean, Fred," he said, in a low voice, "do you mean that you have
a doubt of Frank's innocence?"

"I should rather not say anything about it," Fred replied. "I hope with
all my heart that Frank is not guilty, but----"

"What do you think?" Captain Bayley repeated; "have you any grounds