private int compare(String pattern,Suffix suffix)
	{
		int max = Math.min(pattern.length(), suffix.length());
        for (int i = 0; i < max; i++) {
            if (pattern.charAt(i) < suffix.charAt(i)) return -1;
            if (pattern.charAt(i) > suffix.charAt(i)) return +1;
        }
        return 0;
	}