“I wish you hadn't told me,” Ripon grumbled. “I am sure I don't know what's best to do;” and he turned away and began to pace the yard moodily up and down. “The only thing I have decided,” he said to Ned the next day, “is to ask Mother Brown myself how much Mather paid her. We may as well settle that question first.” As this was Wednesday and the cake woman was coming that evening there was not long to wait. Ripon chose a time when most of the boys had made their purchases and the old woman was alone. “Don't you give too much tick to any of the fellows, Mother Brown,” he began. “You know it isn't always easy to get money that's owing.” “I should think not, Master Ripon; I wish they would always pay money down as you do. There's Master Mather, he been owing me money ever since last half. He borrowed ten shillings of me and promised solemn he would pay at the end of the week, and he has only paid five shillings yet, a month ago, and that was only 'cause I told him I would tell the master about him; there's that five shillings, and seven shillings and eightpence for cakes and things; but I have been giving him a piece of my mind this afternoon; and if I don't get that other five shillings by Saturday, sure enough I will speak to t' maister about it. No one can say as Mother Brown is hard on boys, and I am always ready to wait reasonable; but I can't abear lies, and when I lent that ten shillings I expected it was going to be paid punctual.” “Then he knows you are going to speak to Mr. Porson on Saturday if he doesn't pay up another five shillings?” “He knows it,” the old woman said, nodding. “When I says a thing I mean it. So he had best pay up.” When Ripon met Ned next day he said: “I talked to her last night. Mather paid her five shillings, and she has told him if he doesn't pay her the other five by Saturday she will speak to Porson; so I think the best plan is to wait till then and see what comes of it. She will tell the whole story and Porson will learn it without our interference, and can think what he likes about it.” Relieved in mind at finding that there was a prospect of his avoiding the decision whether or not to inform the master of his suspicions, Ned went to his desk. When afternoon school began Mr. Porson said gravely: “Boys, when you came back from the field did you all go straight to the washing room to wash your hands before dinner?” There was a chorus of surprised assent.