"It isn't true, it can't be true," spluttered Rupert, but all the same, in his heart, he felt sure it was.
"How did you know anything about the affair?" said Kenneth.
"I heard of it from Dorothy," replied Grey, his honest eyes full of contrition, "and I promised faithfully I'd never tell; but it's out now—worse luck!"
"Now you've told us so much, you must tell us the rest."
There was quite a note of command in Kenneth's voice.
"Well, it was like this," said Grey unwillingly; "my sister Dorothy happened to look in the class-room window just at the time your sister was using the Key. She saw her, too, put the book in Ella Russell's desk all in a hurry."
"Then why didn't she speak up?" cried Rupert sharply.
"Because, you see, Gertie is her own particular chum, and somehow she didn't like to."
"I see," said Kenneth, looking as humiliated as though he had been caught in an act of theft.
"I shall never forgive myself," cried poor Grey, "for being such a mean cad."