ne another in horror at the sight of
this awful outrage; and when, a moment after, they saw the doctor gather
himself together and return to the charge, this time closing the door
behind him, they did not envy the unlucky Clapperton the awkward five
minutes in store for him.

How the two arranged matters no one could say. But as no sounds of
violence issued, and the doctor did not summon any one to fetch his
cane, they concluded Clapperton had offered a sufficiently humble
apology for his mistake.

"Hold on, now," said Wally, after three minutes had passed; "I'll try it
now--it's my only chance. You Classic kids be ready to cut home with me
as soon as I come back."

So, starting at a run like one who had come a long distance and expected
to find the senior alone, he dashed unceremoniously into Clapperton's
study, of course not appearing to notice the distinguished company
present, crying--

"I say, Clapperton. Hooray! The money's found. Rollitt's no thief.
Ain't you glad! Oh, the doctor! I beg your pardon, sir."

The next moment he, D'Arcy, Ashby, and Fisher minor were descending the
stairs three steps at a time on the way back to Mr Wakefield's as fast
as their legs would carry them, and with all the righteous satisfaction
of men who had done their duty at all costs.

"I reckon," said Wally, "he pretty well knows about it now--and if he
don't, the doctor will rub it in."

The unfortunate Clapperton, indeed, required no one to "rub in" the fact
that he had made a mess of things.

The doctor did not attempt to do it. He merely carried the news of the
finding of the money, and desired Clapperton, as the head of the house,
to make it known as widely as possible.

"I say nothing now of the cruel wrong which has been inflicted by hasty
suspicion on Rollitt. That shadow is still on the School. But the
worst shadow, that a Fellsgarth boy was a thief, is happily removed, and
I wish every boy in this house to hear of it at the earliest possible
moment."

And the doctor went, leaving Clapperton to gulp down the bitter pill as
best he could.

Why should he have the job to do? He had not been the first to start
the suspicions. Dangle had done that--Dangle, with whom he had fought.
Why should not Dangle be called upon to put it right? Unluckily, Dangle
was not the captain of Forder's. He was not as responsible in starting
the rumour as Clapperton, in his position, had been in adopting it.

It was more t