y it.

He wandered about during the hour between first and second school with
the idea of coming across his man in the quadrangle or the playground.
He could not make up his mind to beard the lion in his den; indeed at
present he had every reason to fight shy of Welch's.

Second and third school passed before he was able to renew his search,
and this time he was successful.

Just as he was beginning to give up hope, and was meditating a show-up
for appearance's sake at the cricket practice, he caught sight of Silk
lolling on a bench in a distant corner of the Big.

His heart sunk as he made the discovery, but it was no time for
consulting his inclinations.

He moved timidly over in the direction of the bench, taking care to
approach it from behind, so as to be spared the discomfort of a long
inspection on the way.

Silk blissfully unconscious of the visit in store, was peacefully
performing a few simple addition sums on the back of an envelope, and
calculating how with six shillings he should be able to pay debts
amounting to twenty-six, when Wyndham's shadow suddenly presented itself
between him and his figures and gave him quite a start.

"Ah!" said he, in his usual friendly style, and to all appearances quite
forgetful of the incidents of his last interview with this visitor.
"Ah, Wyndham, so you've come back?"

"I wanted to see you very particularly," said the boy.

"Plenty of room on the seat," said Silk.

Wyndham, feeling far more uncomfortable at this civility than he had
done at Gilk's roughness, sat down.

"Nice weather," said Silk, mockingly, after the pause had lasted some
little time.

"I want to ask you a favour--a great favour," said Wyndham, feeling that
a beginning must be made.

"Very kind of you," replied Silk, going on with his sums, and whistling
softly to himself.

Wyndham did not feel encouraged. He had half a mind to back out of the
venture even now, but desperation urged him on.

"You know I promised you never to say a word about Beamish's," he
faltered, at length.

"So you did," replied Silk, drily.

"Would you mind letting me off that promise?"

"What?" exclaimed Silk, putting down his paper and pencil and staring at
the boy.

"I mean only as far as I'm concerned," said Wyndham, hurriedly, trying
to avert a storm.

"As far as you are concerned! What on earth are you talking about?"
exclaimed the other.

"I want to confess to the doctor that I went those two times,