Another week had passed, and it had been a delightful one for both Ralph and his chum, now that they were friends again. For these two, so different in natures, liked each other very much; and now that the trouble was gone, they were drawn still closer together. Of course they were. Had not Ralph proved what a staunch good fellow he could be? and had not Charlton shown that he was not only innocent of stealing that note, but that he was a loyal, true son, doing what he could to help his unfortunate father?
It was good to see how the boys had come round and how they regarded Ralph as a comrade to be proud of; though Elgert and Dobson and the set whom they led, glowered and sneered, and said unkind things that hurt no one, and were treated with contempt.
And Saturday had come, and the boys were preparing to set out for their homes, and Ralph had a bundle of books under his arm, for he meant to have another quiet read that evening. The Newlet would want a lot of working for, and, since he had entered, he meant to do all he could to win success.
"What are you going to do?" said Warren; and the pair confessed that they had made no particular plans.
"I cannot spare very much time, anyway," said Ralph. "I want to put in a few hours' work to-night."
"You will go and make yourself silly if you do too much," answered Tom Warren. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, you know. Will you both meet me after you have had lunch—say about one o'clock—and we will go for a ramble?"
"Where?" asked Charlton. "Anywhere in particular?"
"I will tell you a nice walk. Let us go over the moor, and past Great Stow, out to Crab Tree Hill. It is jolly out there; and there are some lovely butterflies in the chalk there."
"Butterflies in chalk?" said Ralph, raising his brows in wonder; and Warren laughed.
"You kite! I mean that it is chalk country all round there, and the butterflies keep to it—fritillaries and skippers and browns; and we can find some grass snakes there."