there was but one serious theme of conversation at marlthorpe college during the remainder of that day, and it is not difficult to guess that the theft of the banknote formed its subject. from the highest class to the lowest—from the first form youngsters right up to the upper fifth—the boys discussed the business eagerly, and, it must be owned, with divided opinions.
for there were some there who, being quick to perceive true nobility of character, felt that it was impossible for such a boy as ralph rexworth to be a thief. they were like dr. beverly and mr. delermain, and felt that, dark as the circumstances made it appear for ralph, he could not be guilty of such a mean action. and there were others who, with all the thoughtlessness of youth, and influenced, perhaps, by the words of elgert and dobson, were quite ready to declare ralph guilty off-hand, without the slightest hesitation.
and it was bitter for ralph—far more bitter than any there could understand. he felt that they all looked with suspicion upon him. and he even did his[pg 123] best friends some injustice, yet they, right down to their hearts, believed him to be guilty.
he wanted at first to throw aside his books and go back to mr. st. clive and to irene, but he pulled himself up sternly. he would not run away like a coward. it would appear as if he were really guilty. he would stay and fight it out and prove his innocence. he felt sure that it would aid him in getting at the truth concerning his father, and so he settled sternly down to his work, and even, in his battle, seemed a little cold and standoffish to his best friends.
and charlton—ah, ralph could not help thinking that charlton knew something about this. he seemed so strange, so different and hesitating. he felt like challenging him to tell the truth, but something, he was not quite clear what, made him hesitate. it was bad enough to be suspected himself, and he was a fairly strong boy, able to take his own part, but what would timid, weakly charlton feel if the suspicion were thrown upon him?
"i won't do anything to let him think that i suspect him, until i can be sure that i have good grounds for suspicion," ralph reflected.
and then he paused. and if he had those good grounds, what then? suppose that he could even be certain that charlton was the culprit, what then? the boy would have taken the money for his mother in all likelihood, and——
ralph shrugged his shoulders and turned resolutely[pg 124] to his work, and, though plenty there believed that he was guilty, there was such a look upon that strong young face that they forbore to speak their opinions directly to him, but only revealed them by cutting him contemptuously whenever he chanced to be in their company.
but he was not left without comforters. mr. delermain took the opportunity to speak with him quietly, and as he placed one hand gently upon the strong young shoulder, and looked gravely into the face, now somewhat clouded with its sorrow, the kindly master said—
"rexworth, my dear boy, i could find it in my heart to wish that i had never mentioned this loss."
"i do not, sir," answered ralph quickly. "if the thing has been done it ought to be mentioned, no matter upon whom the blame may fall. it is rather hard to feel that so many of the boys believe that i have done it, but then, you see, i was in your room, and things look black, and i have no means of proving that my story of some one having passed me is really true."
"i would that we had any clue to that," observed the master. "if we could only find out who that was! you have no suspicion, ralph?"
and he glanced into the boy's eyes.
"no sir." then ralph hesitated. that was not quite true. he had a suspicion. "i would rather not talk of it, sir," he answered, after a pause. "perhaps it is not quite right to say that i have no suspicion,[pg 125] but it is only a suspicion, and i have no right to talk about it, seeing that i have no solid grounds to go upon. i am accused solely upon suspicion, and i know how hard it is."
"i applaud your sentiment," said mr. delermain. "well, my dear lad, let me impress upon you that i do not believe you to be a thief. let me give you my sympathy, and let me encourage you to bear this trial—i fully understand how hard it must be for one of your nature—bravely; and let me assure you that i shall look forward with just as much pleasure as formerly to your visits in the evening. do not let this interfere with your studies for the newlet medal, and rest sure that i should not again invite ralph rexworth into my study if i suspected him of being a thief."
"the boy has some sort of suspicion," reflected the master, after ralph had gone. "he suspects some one. now whom can that be? is he shielding that boy charlton? he is a weakly dispositioned lad—one likely to fall into temptation, and to yield to it too. i must watch him quietly. charlton is the most likely boy to have done this. he is poor too. perhaps he took it to help his mother. poor lad! if that is the case, i would be the last one to bring him to punishment." he paused and shook his head. "i ought to take a lesson from rexworth," he went on, with a smile. "he will not speak upon mere suspicion, and here i am weaving a theory without the slightest ground for so doing, and actually arriving at the conclusion that a[pg 126] certain boy is guilty, when i have not the least right to even connect him with the theft."
mr. delermain went back to his duties, but still that thought was in his head—was it possible that charlton had taken that five-pound note, and that ralph rexworth knew it, and was silent only for the sake of his chum? ralph felt quite cheered by his master's words. he did not dream that mr. delermain thought anything about charlton being the thief, and he soon found another comforter in the person of good-hearted tom warren; for the monitor came up to him with outstretched hand, crying heartily—
"look here, rexworth, you are asking for a fight with me, that's what!"
"eh?" said ralph, staring. "i don't understand."
"well then, why are you cutting me like this? oh, think i don't notice it? you are sitting moping, just like an old magpie that is moulting. look here, don't be so jolly silly as to worry about what these kites say or do. it's only elgert and his gang, and dobby and co. they are always glad to be able to chuck stones at another fellow's glasshouse; but they will get their own windows smashed in time. now, don't hide your head as though you had done something to be ashamed about. come into the playground with me."
"the other fellows don't want me, and i don't want to go where i am not wanted."
"rubbish! downright silly rubbish!" retorted[pg 127] warren. "i want you! i want you to show me how to throw one of those ropes like you do. i cannot manage it. i was trying the other day, and i caught bert standish an awful smack in the eye, and jolly nearly knocked it out for him; and if you had seen him scudding after me, one hand on his injured optic and the other shaking in very wrath! i didn't stop to argue until i got safe inside my study and had the bolt drawn; and then he stood outside kicking the panel, and calling me a chump, and a kite, and a cuckoo, and all manner of pretty and polite names, and inviting me to come out and let him wipe up the floor with me. i spoke soft words, and tried to pour oil on troubled waters, only the troubled waters were not taking any, and would not be assuaged until kesterway came along and said that he would report him for damaging the paint if he didn't stop it. i have kept out of bert's way since then, and he has got a lovely bruise under his eye. come on, ralph, and show me how you do it without knocking any one's head off."
so ralph suffered himself to be taken into the playground, and though some looked at him suspiciously and edged away from him, others of warren's disposition resolved that, at any rate, they would wait for proof before condemning him, gathered round ralph, and made him feel that they were his friends.
so opinions were divided, and marlthorpe college split into two parties, one for, and one against ralph—one with tom warren at its head, and the other with[pg 128] horace elgert, the honourable horace elgert, the nobleman's son!
and elgert was not quite satisfied, for he saw that ralph was not sent to coventry, as he had intended that he should be. he saw that some of the boys recognized that he was not the sort of lad to be a thief, and he determined that, if it could be done, their opinions should be changed.
"if i can only prove that he did it," he mused, "i may be able to manage that, if i have any luck."
so the days of the week slipped away, once more bringing the saturday holiday near, and it had been one of the hardest weeks that ralph rexworth had ever known—a week that had called for all his strength of will and purpose to enable him to face and overcome its difficulties and temptations.
it was friday afternoon, and ralph was in his study putting his books straight prior to leaving—he was always neat in his habits—when charlton came in, hesitating, troubled-looking, as ever.
"glad the week is over, ralph?" he asked, after he had stood in silence for a little while watching his chum.
and ralph nodded.
"yes. it has been a little hard. i shall be glad to have a rest from it," he answered.
"they are wicked to try and make out that you took that note. they ought to know that you did not. i know you did not."
[pg 129]
"do you? how?" was the quiet answer to this indignant outburst.
and charlton seemed confused.
"why, because—don't you see—because—you could not do it, of course."
"thanks!" said ralph. "it is nice to hear you say that."
but, alas! he wondered whether charlton had any better grounds for his belief.
and then the boy went on, taking ten shillings from his pocket.
"here are the ten shillings which i owe you. i am much obliged."
ralph looked hard at him, and made no attempt to pick up the money.
"charlton," he said quietly, "i thought you said that you would not be able to repay me for some time."
and charlton looked more confused than ever.
"i know, but i—i can pay you now."
"how did you get the money?" asked ralph.
and his chum grew more nervous.
"i had it given—i mean that i—— why do you ask that?"
"i will tell you, charlton," answered ralph gravely. "i don't mean to tell any one else, though. you had no money at the beginning of this week, and now you can pay me ten shillings. where did you get the money from? did you take that five-pound note?"
[pg 130]
for a moment the lad stood silently staring at ralph. then his pale face went crimson, and he burst out indignantly—
"what do you mean? do you think that i stole it? do you mean that i am a thief? you can't mean that, rexworth! did you ever catch me telling a lie?"
"yes," said ralph quietly. "i did once."
"when?" demanded charlton.
and ralph answered—
"last week in the woods, when you said that you were alone. i know that there was a man with you."
"that is a lie!" answered charlton wildly. "there was no one. you have no right to say there was any one with me." he seemed quite beside himself with terror. "i know what it is, ralph rexworth! you have taken that note after all, and now you are trying to put the blame upon me. we are not chums any longer. i hate you!"
and with that charlton rushed off, choking with anger and bitter grief, and ralph stood there looking after him, more in regret than in anger.
"poor chap!" he muttered. "i ought not to have spoken like that. it only shows how easy it is to make a slip, if you are not for ever watching. perhaps i am wronging him, after all."
he paused. his eyes fell upon the money which charlton had placed upon the table. if he was wronging him, then where had charlton managed to get that money from?
