t till he saw us."

And he relapsed into a painful fit of coughing.

"I feel very hot all over," said the baronet, who was notoriously
energetic at bolster matches.

"Now, you two," said Railsford sternly, "just get up at once. I shall
remain in the room while you dress."

They looked at him in reproachful horror, and broke into the most heart-
rending paroxysm of coughing he had ever listened to.

"Stop that noise," said he, "and get up at once."

"Oh, please, Marky--Mr Railsford--we're so bad and--and Daisy would be
so sorry if I got consumption, or anything of that sort."

"We shall get into trouble, sir," added the baronet, "for getting up
without the medical's leave. He told us to stay in bed, and--"

Here another cough, which, however, was promptly suppressed.

"You will get into no more trouble with him than you have got into
already for getting up last night after he had gone, and acting in the
farce in the Fourth class-room."

The culprits regarded one another with looks of consternation.

"Did you see us then?" asked Arthur. "You see, Marky--Mr Railsford I
mean--we'd promised to--"

"I want no explanations, Arthur; you had no business to get up then, and
you've no business not to get up now. Shamming isn't honourable, and
that ought to be reason enough why you and Oakshott should drop it."

After this the delinquents dressed in silence and followed their master
down to the class-room, where the ironical welcome of their fellows by
no means tended to smooth their ruffled plumage.

However, as they _were_ down, their colds recovered in ample time to
allow of their taking part in the cricket practice in the afternoon; and
the exercise had a wonderful effect in reconciling them to their
compulsory convalescence.

They were sitting, half working, half humbugging, in their study at
preparation-time, when Railsford again looked in. "Herapath," said he,
"if you bring your Cicero down to my room presently, I'll show you the
passages marked for the Swift Exhibition."

In due time Arthur presented himself. He and Digby between them had
smelt a rat.

"He's going to jaw you, you bet," said the baronet.

"Looks like it. I wonder why he always picks on you and me for jawing?
Why can't he give the other fellows a turn? Never mind, he was civil to
us that night at the abbey--I suppose I'd better let him have his own
way."

So, after a fitting interval, he repaired with his books to the lion's
de