pecially concerned behind.

"We're going to drink a toast," said Arthur. "I vote we drink the
health of jolly old Marky and my sister Daisy; there they are behind,
going the pace like a house on fire. Gentlemen and ladies, I vote we
drink their very good health, and the sooner Daisy's the dame of
Railsford's the better larks for us."

The toast was honoured with much enthusiasm; and there were loud cries
for a speech in return. But the Master of the Shell was making speeches
of quite another kind, and utterly unconscious of the flattering little
demonstration which was taking place behind him; he was telling Daisy in
whispers the story of the term, and feeling himself rewarded for all he
had gone through by her sympathetic smile.

The dinner ended at last, and but one more ceremony remained. This was
the time-honoured cheering with which speech-day at Grandcourt always
came to an end.

Smedley and the prefects walked in procession to the head table and
ranged themselves behind the head governor's chair, while everyone stood
up.

"Three cheers for Grandcourt!" called the captain.

And you may fancy the earthquake that ensued.

Then in regular order followed--

"Three cheers for the doctor!"

"Three cheers for Miss Violet!"

"Three cheers for the governors!"

Then again, in regular order, the captain of each house stepped forward
and called for three cheers for his own house, all of which were
vigorously given--each house being on its mettle to drown all the
others.

Last in the list Ainger stepped forward and called for "Three cheers for
Railsford's!"

Then Arthur and Dig and the rest of the house got upon their chairs and
put their backs into the shout; and everyone allowed that, whatever else
Railsford's wasn't first in, it could carry off the palm for noise. At
the end of the third cheer a voice called out,--

"One more for the cock house!"

Whereat Arthur and Dig and the rest of them got on their chairs again
and yelled till the roof rang.

Then amid a multitude of promiscuous cheers for "the captain," "the
prefects," "the cook," "Jason," "the school cat," "Thucydides!" and
finally for "Dulce Domum!" Grandcourt broke up for the holidays.

Let you and me, friendly reader, say good-bye here amid all the cheery
bustle and excitement of the crowded quadrangle. It is better to part
so than to linger about talking morality till the great square is
empty--till the last of the cabs has rumbled a