note as to this afternoon's work looked for the pencil and it was
gone. The window was open as usual, and it is possible that tramps
passing along the road may have come into the garden and have got
in at the window. As in the case of the book I suspect no one, but
two such occurrences as these are very uncomfortable for us all.
I shall not propose any search this time, for had any of you taken
it, which I cannot for a moment believe, he would not have been
careless enough to put it in his pocket, or conceal it in his desk
or boxes, but would have stowed it away somewhere where there would
be no chance whatever of its being found. Now let us dismiss the
subject and go on with our lessons."

While the master was speaking Ripon and Sankey had glanced for
a moment at each other; the same thought was in both their minds.
After school was over they joined each other in the yard.

"Was Mather in the washing room with the others?" Sankey asked
eagerly.

"He was, but he came up last," Ripon replied. "You know he generally
saunters along in a lazy way and is the last to get in. So he was
today, but I don't know that he was later than usual."

"I think, Ripon, we ought to speak to Porson."

"I think so too," Ripon rejoined gravely; "it is too serious to keep
to ourselves. Any ordinary thing I would not peach about on any
account, but a disgraceful theft like this, which throws a doubt
over us all, is another thing; the honor of the whole school is at
stake. I have been thinking it over. I don't want Mather to suspect