THE MISSING BOOK. 67

most prompt method for obtaining his property ; and
he should make known his name unless he received
his book without needless delay. I am exceedingly
grieved,” continued Mr. Harding, “that any one should
have violated what I consider one of the most impor-
tant rules of my school, as you all know how strongly
I have often expressed my abhorrence of the kind of
books usually found in circulating libraries such as
Mr. Shaw’s. It seems to me also an act of ingratitude,
as I have been at the personal expense of purchasing a
library for your use, of such books as I approve. I
advise whoever has the book Mr. Shaw is in search of
to confess it immediately, otherwise Mr. Shaw will
himself make it known.”

No one spoke or moved.

Mr. Harding looked carefully around the room, and
then added, “ There is no one absent from the school
now but Philip Graham, and his conduct has been
such as to exonerate him from the suspicion of so
gross a violation of duty, and of course it must be one
of those now present.”

Mr. Shaw returned home, and Mr. Harding then
directed the boys to remain in their places while he
visited their rooms in search of the missing book. He
was absent but a few moments when he re-appeared in
the school-room, bringing a book which they all knew
came from the forbidden circulating library. His counten-
alce was very grave, and he said, with unusual emotion: