"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?" 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? CHAPTER XIV BY THE RIVER SIDE "I wish that I had not spoken like that to him." So Ralph Rexworth mused as he left the study and went along the corridor--anger at the violent outburst and the accusation which Charlton had hurled at him, he felt none. A muffled sound broke upon his ears--the sound of some one sobbing violently, and he stopped, peering along the corridor until he made out the form of his former chum. Charlton had flung himself down full length, and was crying as if his heart would break. It was more than Ralph could stand--he went up to him and laid a hand upon the prostrate boy's shoulder. "Charlton," he said kindly, "don't cry. I am awfully sorry that I have offended you, and that we have quarrelled. I did not mean to do it. Won't you get up and shake hands with me?"