that the last time Porson brought it out was on the Thursday, which
was the day after Mather had been speaking to Mother Brown. Now,
of course, Ripon, I don't actually suspect Mather of taking the
book; still it is curious its being missing just at the time he
wanted money so badly. He may have got the money from home, or he
may have borrowed it from some other fellow."

"No," Ripon said positively, "I am sure Mather has had no letter,
because I always distribute the letters, and Mather's people never
write to him; and I am sure there was no fellow in the school had
more than a shilling or two at the outside at that time. Why didn't
you tell me before, Sankey?"

"I didn't like to, because every one knows Mather and I are not good
friends; then I thought perhaps Mather might be able to explain it
all right, and I should have cut a nice figure if he could; then
at the time when I thought of it, and had got the dates right, the
first excitement had died out and I thought we might hear no more
of it and it would be forgotten; but now that the book has been
found and the whole thing has come up fresh again I thought it
better to tell you all about it and ask you what you would advise
me to do."

Ripon did not answer for some time; then he said:

"I am sure I don't know, Ned; I will think it over till tomorrow.
You have not said anything about it to any one else?"

"Not to a soul. I hesitated whether I should tell you or father,
but he wouldn't understand how boys think of these things so well