teresting, and even amusing, to the onlooker; but I never heard
of it doing anything towards the promotion of discipline or the
encouragement of good tone among the rank and file. The quarrel of the
two masters at Grandcourt certainly failed to do any good to the school,
and if it did less mischief than might have been expected, it was
because up till now the parties principally concerned had had their own
reasons for keeping it private.

Felgate was naturally anxious to hear the result of an entertainment to
which he had, as he imagined, made so valuable a contribution. He
therefore ventured to call on Mr Bickers the following morning for a
little friendly chat.

His reception did not quite come up to his expectations.

"So, sir," exclaimed Mr Bickers, meeting him at the door, "you have
thought me a fitting subject for one of your jokes, have you? What have
you to say for yourself?"

Felgate looked at him in amazement.

"I really don't understand," said he. "What joke?"

"You wish to keep it up, do you? Very well, sir!" and Mr Bickers took
down a cane. "You have thought fit to amuse yourself at my expense,"
said Mr Bickers. "I intend to repay myself at yours! Hold out your
hand!"

"You are not going to punish me for--"

"Hold out your hand, sir!"

"Really, I acted for the best. If it was a mistake, I--"

"Do you hear me, sir? Hold out your hand at once!"

Felgate sullenly obeyed, and Mr Bickers there and then discharged his
little debt, adding interest.

"Now go away, and don't dare to come near me again! Stay, take with you
these tokens of your ill-timed humour; they may serve to amuse someone
else. Begone!" and he thrust into his hands the unlucky parcel and
closed the door in his face.

Felgate, smarting and bewildered, walked back to his house with the
parcel under his arm, furious with Mr Bickers, and as eager now for
revenge on him as yesterday he had been for revenge on Railsford.

What could have happened to make all his carefully laid scheme fall
through, and set Mr Bickers, whom he had counted upon as an ally, thus
suddenly against him? Had Railsford met him with some counter-charge,
or turned the tables by some unexpected move in the face of his
accusers?

That could not be, for already the rumour had spread through the house
that Mr Railsford had resigned his post.

What did Mr Bickers mean by talking of a joke, and thrusting back upon
him the very proofs which but yesterda