Mr. Porson had taken
Ripon aside and had told that the kindest way to treat the boys
would be to avoid all allusion to their loss or anything like a
show of open sympathy, but to let them settle quietly into their
places.
"Sankey will know you all feel for him, Ripon, he will need no
telling of that."
Ripon passed the word round the school, and accordingly when the
boys came into the playground, two or three minutes before the bell
rang, Ned, to his great relief, found that with the exception of
a warm silent wring of the hand from a few of those with whom he
was most intimate, and a kindly nod from others, no allusion was
made to his fortnight's absence or its cause.
For the next month he worked hard and made up the time he had lost,
running straight home when he came out from school, and returning
just in time to go in with the others; but gradually he fell into
his former ways, and by the time the school broke up at Christmas
was able to mix with the boys and take part in their games. At
home he did his best to make things bright, but it was uphill work.
Mrs. Sankey was fretful and complaining. Their income was reduced
by the loss of Captain Sankey's half pay, and they had now only the
interest of the fortune of four thousand pounds which Mrs. Sankey
had brought to her husband on her marriage. This sum had been settled
upon her, and was entirely under her own control.
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