me up in every way you can. You
will be able to do a great deal if you only try."

"I'm game! Am I to be made a prefect, I say, Mark--Mr Railsford, I
mean?"

"And remember," said Mark, ignoring the question, "that we are here to
work, and not to--to drive omnibuses."

Arthur brightened up suddenly.

"You saw the race, then? Stunning spurt round the last lap, only Dig
hadn't any stay in him, and the cab had the inside berth. I say, don't
let anybody know it was Dig, will you? He'd get in rather a mess, and
he's going to put it on hard this term to make up."

Could anything be more hopeless than the task of impressing this simple-
minded youth with a sense of his duty and deportment towards the new
Master of the Shell?

Railsford gave the attempt up, and the school-bell happily intervened to
make a diversion.

"That's for dinner. It's generally at two, you know; but on opening day
it's 4.30," said the boy. "We shall have to cut, or we shall be gated,
I say."

"Well, you must show me the way," said Mark. "I'm ready."

"You'll have to wear your cap and gown, though," replied Arthur, "or
you'll get in a row."

Railsford hastened to rectify the omission, and next moment was standing
in the great square beside his lively young pilot, amid a crowd of boys
hastening towards the school hall.

"We'd better do a trot," said the boy.

"We shall do it all right, I think," said the master, whose dignity
revolted against any motion more rapid than quick walking. Arthur,
trotting at his side and encouraging him from time to time to "put it
on," detracted a little from the solemnity of the procession. The bell
was just ceasing to ring as they entered the hall, and for the first
time Railsford found himself in the presence of the assembled school.

Arthur had darted off to his own table, leaving his companion to find
his way to the masters' table at the head of the hall, where all his
colleagues were already in their places, standing for grace.

Railsford, considerably flurried, slipped into the place which Grover
had reserved for him just as the head boy present began to recite the
Latin collect, and became painfully aware that his already damaged
character for punctuality was by no means enhanced in the severe eyes of
Dr Ponsford. The new master glanced round a little nervously at his
colleagues. Grover introduced him to a few of the nearest, some of whom
received him with a friendly greeting, others eyed