"It is just my luck that she should be late to-day," he thought, "when she is always so punctual." He often looked toward her seat, but could not catch her eye. She seemed unusually busy with her books. Matthew did not know what to make of it. He looked at his watch--a handsome gold one that his father had given him as a birthday present. It wanted only fifteen minutes of recess time. "I will see her then," thought Matthew. The bell rang, and the scholars left their seats and passed out into the anteroom--all save those who wished to remain and study. Matthew grew anxious as Nellie did not come out with the other girls. Recess was half gone. He made an excuse to go to his seat on the pretense of getting something, but really to try and speak to Nellie. She was with the teacher, however, who was assisting her to work a difficult example. Matthew returned to the anteroom angry. He could not bear the disappointment gracefully. "She avoids me for some cause," he said to himself, and then wondered what it could be. "Last night," he reflected, "we were the best of friends. Can it be possible that Simmons has already told the secret? He threatened yesterday that he would unless I made a payment." The thought made him wretched. He was unfit for study, and wanted to get out to learn if any such report had actually been circulated. On the reassembling of school he obtained a dismissal for the day on the plea of feeling ill. He was ill--very ill at ease in his mind, beset as it was with fears, and troubled over the sudden change in Nellie's manner toward him. On his way from school he met Tim Short. He was glad to see him, and yet shuddered for fear he would say it was all up with them. "What brings you here at this time?" finally asked Matthew. "I was going up to school to see you." "What has happened that you want to see me?" queried Matthew, dreading the answer. "I have been discharged." "Is that all?" drawing a long breath of relief. "Isn't that enough?" asked Tim indignantly. "It might be worse; but what were you discharged for?" "Discharged to give Fred Worthington my place, I suppose," answered Tim, with evident ill feeling toward Fred. "Is it possible? And has he your place?" "Yes, he went to work this morning." "I think you have as much cause now as I have to be down on him." "Yes, and more too," returned Tim savagely. "On his account we got into this trouble with Simmons, and are liable to be exposed any day," said Matthew. Tim turned pale. "I thought you promised to fix that," he replied. "So I did, but I have not been able to raise the money. Now, something has got to be done at once. Let us go up to the pines and decide what it shall be." Tim assented, and the two boys soon found themselves quite alone in the thick pine grove just outside of the village.