hat morning between the
two boys. What they said was meant for no ears but their own. How one
in his quiet manly way tried to help the younger boy, and how the other
with all sorts of fears and hopes listened and took courage, was known
only to the two friends themselves, and to One other from Whom no
secrets--not even the secrets of a schoolboy--are hid.

The bell for call-over put an end to their talk, and with lighter hearts
than most in Willoughby they walked across to the Great Hall and heard
the doctor's sentence on the truants of yesterday.

It was not very formidable. No half-holiday next Wednesday, and for the
seniors a hundred lines of Greek to write out; for the Limpets a hundred
lines of Latin, and for the juniors fifty lines of Latin. The doctor
had evidently taken a lenient view of the case, regarding the escapade
more as a case of temporary insanity than of determined disobedience.
However, he relieved his mind by a good round lecture, to which the
school listened most resignedly.

There was, however, one part of the punishment which fell heavily on a
few of those present. Among the truants had been no less than five
monitors--Game, Tipper, Ashley, Silk, and Tucker.

"It would be a farce," said the doctor, severely, "after what has
happened, to allow you to retain the posts of confidence you have held
in the school. Your blame is all the greater in proportion as your
influence was greater too. For the remainder of this term you cease to
be monitors. It depends entirely on yourselves whether next term you
are reinstated."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A MYSTERIOUS LETTER.

It was hardly to be expected that the political excitement of Willoughby
would altogether disappear until the result of the election was made
known. And for some reason or other a whole day had to elapse before
the tidings found their way up to the school.

After what had happened no one had the hardihood to ask leave to go down
into the town, and none of the butcher's or baker's boys that Parson and
Telson intercepted in the grounds could give any information. The hopes
of Willoughby centred on Brown, the town boy, whose arrival the next
morning was awaited with as much excitement and impatience as if he had
been a general returning home from a victorious campaign.

Fully aware of his importance, and feeling popularity to be too unusual
a luxury to be lightly given up, he behaved himself at first with
aggravating reserv