he floor amidst the scared juniors there
assembled.

Railsford, with all his follies, was a man of quick perception, and took
in the whole situation at a glance. He understood why Mr Bickers was
there, and why the place was so silent. Still more, he perceived that
his own authority in the house had suffered a shock, and that a lesson
was being read him by the man whom, of all his colleagues, he disliked
the most.

"Good-evening," said Mr Bickers, with a show of friendliness.

Mark nodded.

"I am glad to be able to render up your house to you in rather better
order than I found it. If you'll take my advice, Railsford, you will
not venture out, in the evening specially, leaving no one in authority.
It is sure to be taken advantage of."

Railsford bit his lips.

"I ought to be much obliged to you," said he coldly. "As it happens, I
did not venture out without leaving anyone in authority."

"If you mean Stafford and--what is his name?--Felgate--I can't
congratulate you on your deputies. They were, in fact, aiding and
abetting the disorder, and I have sent them to their rooms as
incompetent. I would advise you to relieve them of their office as soon
as you can."

"Thank you for your advice," said Railsford, whose blood was getting up.
"I will make my own arrangements in my own house."

"Of course, my dear fellow," replied Bickers, blandly, "but you should
really find two better men than those. There was no attempt to stop the
disorder (which had been going on for half an hour) when I arrived. I
had to castigate one of the ringleaders myself--Herapath by name,
claiming kinship with you, by the way. I'm not sure that you ought not
to report him to Dr Ponsford."

It was all Railsford could do to listen quietly to this speech, drawled
out slowly and cuttingly by his rival. He made a desperate effort to
control himself, as he replied--

"Don't you think, Mr Bickers, you might with advantage go and see how
your own house is getting on in your absence?"

Mr Bickers smiled.

"Happily, I have responsible prefects. However, now you are back--and
if you are not going out again--I will say good-night."

Railsford said "Good-night," and disregarding the proffered hand of his
colleague, walked moodily up to his own room.

He may be excused if he was put out and miserable. He was in the wrong,
and he knew it. And yet the mariner in which the rebuke had been
administered was such as no man of spirit could ch