lar," said she; "it's far simpler than those you brought
with you to-day. How long did it take you to do them?"

I looked hard at Miss Steele, and she looked hard at me. The pirate
game was up at last.

"About two minutes each," said I.

"_Two_ minutes?"

"Yes--as fast as I could copy them out of the crib. I'm sorry, Miss
Steele."

She shut up her book abruptly.

"I didn't expect it of you, Jones," said she; "you've been making a fool
of me. I've lost confidence in you; now you can go."

"Oh, I say. Miss Steele, I'm so awfully--"

"Be quiet, sir, and go!" said she, more fiercely than I had ever known
her.

I took up my cap and went. She was in no humour to listen to
explanations, but it was clear I had done for myself now. After what
had happened she was not likely to give me another chance.

I did not care to tell my mother how matters stood this time. It would
be difficult to put my case in a favourable light, and I was quite sure
my mother could not help me out of my difficulty.

I solemnly burned my crib that night in the parlour fire, after every
one was in bed. It took ages to consume, and nearly set the chimney on
fire in the operation. But when that was done I was as far off a
solution of my difficulty as ever.

I hardly slept a wink, and in the morning my mother added to my
discomfort by remarking on my looks.

"You're working too hard, dear boy," said she. "I must ask Miss Steele
to give you a little holiday, or you'll be quite knocked up."

"Please don't," said I. "I'm all right."

Here the postman's knock caused a diversion.

"A letter for you, Tommy," said my mother.

It was from Tempest, of all people--the first he had condescended to
write me since we had parted company in Plummer's hall nearly a year
ago.

It was a rambling, patronising effusion, in his usual style; but every
word of it, in my present plight, had a sting for me.

"It's a pity you're not here," wrote he; "it's a ripping place.
Everything about the place is ripping except the drilling master and the
dumplings on Mondays, which are both as vile as vile can be. I'm in the
upper fifth, and shall probably get my ribbon and perhaps my house after
summer. Plummer's was regular tomfooling to this. We've a match on
with Rugby this term, and I'm on the reserve for the Eleven. I suppose
you know young Brown is coming here; though I'm sorry to say as a day
boy. His people are going to live in the town, so he'