And so the boy argued with himself and coquetted with the tempter. Before the afternoon was over he felt (as he imagined) quite comfortable in his own mind over the affair. The rod was tied up again in its bag exactly as it had been before, and only wanted an opportunity to be returned to Mr Cripps. After that Loman settled down to an evening's study. But things were against him again. Comfortable as his conscience was, that top joint would not let him alone. It seemed to get into his hand in place of the pen, and to point out the words in the lexicon in place of his finger. He tried not to mind it, but it annoyed him, and, what was worse, interfered with his work. So, shutting up his books, and imagining a change of air might be beneficial, he went off to Callonby's study, there to gossip for an hour or two, and finally rid himself of his tormentor. Stephen, meanwhile, had had Mr Cripps on his mind too, for that afternoon his bat had come home. It was addressed to "Mr Greenfield, Saint Dominic's," and of course taken to Oliver, who wondered much to receive a small size cricket-bat in a parcel. Master Paul, however, who was in attendance, was able to clear up the mystery. "Oh! that's your young brother's, I expect; he said he had got a bat coming." "All I can say is, he must be more flush of cash than I am, to go in for a thing like this. Send him here, Paul." So Paul vanished, and presently Stephen put in an appearance, blushing, and anxious-looking. "Is this yours?" asked the elder brother. "Yes; did Mr Cripps send it?" "Mr Cripps the lock-keeper?" "No, his son. He said he would get it for me. I say, is that a good bat, Oliver?" "Nothing out of the way. But, I say, young 'un, how much have you given for it?" "Not anything yet. Mr Cripps said I could pay in June, when I get my next pocket-money." "What on earth has he to do with when you get your pocket-money?" demanded Oliver. "Who is this young Cripps? He's a cad, isn't he?" "He seemed a very nice man," said Stephen. "Well, look here! the less you have to do with men like him the better. What is the price of the bat?" "I don't know; it's one Mr Cripps had himself when he was a boy. He says it's a beauty! I say, it looks as good as new, Oliver." "You young muff!" said the elder brother; "I expect the fellow's swindling you. Find out what he wants for it at once, and pay him; I'm not going to let you run into debt." "But I can't; I've only two shillings left," said Stephen, dejectedly. "Why, whatever have you done with the five shillings you had last week?" Stephen blushed, and then faltered, "I spent sixpence on stamps and sixpence on--on brandy-balls!" "I thought so. And what did you do with the rest?" "Oh! I--I--that is--I--gave them away." "Gave them away! Who to--to Bramble?" "No," said Stephen, laughing at the idea; "I gave them to a poor old man!" "Where?--when? Upon my word, Stephen, you _are_ a jackass--who to?"