book.

Wraysford was quite taken aback by this unexpected answer, and hesitated
before he turned to go.

"Do you hear what I say?" said Loman. "Don't you see I'm working?"

"Look here," said Wraysford, "I didn't think you were a coward."

"Think what you like. Do you suppose I care? If Greenfield wants so
badly to fight me, why didn't he do it last term when I gave him the
chance? Get out of my study, and tell him I'll have nothing to do with
him or any of your stuck-up Fifth!"

Wraysford stared hard at the speaker and then said, "I suppose you're
afraid to fight _me_, either?"

"If you don't clear out of my study I'll report you to the Doctor,
that's what I'll do," growled Loman.

There was no use staying, evidently; and Wraysford returned dejectedly
to Oliver.

"He won't fight," he announced.

"Not fight!" exclaimed Oliver. "Why ever not?"

"I suppose because he's a coward. He says because he doesn't choose."

"But he _must_ fight, Wray. We must make him!"

"You can't. I called him a coward, and that wouldn't make him. You'll
have to give it up this time, Noll."

But Oliver wouldn't hear of giving it up so easily. He got up and
rushed to Loman's study himself. But it was locked. He knocked, no one
answered. He called through the keyhole, but there was no reply.
Evidently Loman did not intend to fight, and Oliver returned crestfallen
and disappointed to his study.

"It's no go," he said, in answer to his friend's inquiry.

"Oh, well, never mind," said Wraysford. "Even if you could have fought,
I dare say it wouldn't have done much good, for he's such a sullen
beggar there would have been no making it up afterwards. If I were you
I wouldn't bother any more about it. I'll let all the fellows know he
refused to fight you!"

"What's the use of that?" said Oliver. "Why tell them anything about
it?"

But tell them or not tell them, the fellows knew already. It had oozed
out very soon that a fight was coming off, and instantly the whole
school was in excitement. For, however little some of them cared about
the personal quarrel between Oliver and Loman, a fight between Fifth and
Sixth was too great an event to be passed by unheeded.

The Fifth were delighted. They knew their man could beat Loman any day
of the week, and however much they had once doubted his courage, now it
was known he was the challenger every misgiving on that score was done
away with.

"I tell you," said Ricketts