itive temperament, and now that he
found himself humiliated, reduced to the level of the rank and file,
deprived of the very material privileges he had formerly enjoyed, shorn
of his powers, and now in a position to obey where for so long he had
been accustomed to command--yes, the humiliation was intolerable, and
for no greater crime than that his watch had unfortunately stopped. A
mere accident.

Not that his former colleagues were in the least likely to add to his
humiliation by word or act of theirs. _Esprit de corps_ was strong
among them, very largely fostered indeed by his own influence while in a
position to exert it. Even the two or three among them who disliked him
would have shrunk from such an act, as being one of unspeakable
meanness. And his fall was great. In seniority he had stood next to
Laughton, the captain of the school, and were he eventually reinstated,
he would lose this, and have to start again at the bottom of the list.

As for the juniors, some were unfeignedly glad, though their instinct of
self-preservation made them remarkably careful not to obtrude that fact
upon him, yet, though his strictness while in office had rendered him
unpopular, now that he had fallen most of their sympathies were with
him.

But from sympathy or condolence alike he himself shrank. His mind was
bitter with thoughts of hatred and revenge--the latter, if only it could
be obtained--yet why not? He was utterly reckless now. They could but
expel him, and for that he didn't care--at least, so he told himself.
It was in this dangerous mood the day after his suspension that he
encountered Jarnley--Jarnley and his gang.

But Jarnley had seen him coming, and tried to shuffle away. So, too,
did his gang.

"Here--Hi, Jarnley!" he cried. "Wait a bit. I want to speak to you."

There was no escape, short of taking to his heels, wherefore Jarnley
stopped, with a very bad grace and faced round.

"Eh? What is it, Haviland?"

"Just this. That day I smacked your head for bullying Cetchy you said
you'd fight me if I wasn't a prefect. Well, I'm not a prefect now, so--
come on."

"Oh, I was only humbugging, Haviland," returned Jarnley, not in the
least eager to make good his words.

"Then you'd rather not fight?"

"Of course I don't want to," said Jarnley, shrinkingly. "And, look
here, Haviland, I'm beastly sorry you've been reduced."

What was to be done with a cur like this? Haviland knew that the other
w