ot. All they knew was, he was the quickest
half-back and the safest drop-kick the school had, and here was the
match with Landfield coming on, and, lo and behold! their man was in
Coventry, forsooth, and not to be had out for love or money. Thus
baulked, the Sixth Form athletes could afford to wax very virtuous and
philanthropic on the subject of Coventry generally.

"The Doctor ought to put a stop to it," said Stansfield, who this year
occupied the proud position of captain of the fifteen.

"Why, we've not got a single man worth twopence behind the scrimmage!"

This was gratifying for Loman, one of the council of war, who usually
played quarter or half-back in the matches.

"I don't see why we shouldn't get him to play if he _is_ at Coventry,"
said Callonby; "_we_ didn't send him there."

"All very well," said the captain; "if we got him we should lose
Ricketts, and Bullinger, and Tom Senior, and Braddy, which would come to
about the same thing."

"And I shouldn't play either," said Loman, "if Greenfield played."

Stansfield shrugged his shoulders and looked vicious.

"All child's play!" said he. "They think it's very grand and a fine
spectacle and all that. But they ought to have more consideration for
the credit of the school."

"It's not much to the credit of the school," said Loman, "to have a
fellow like him in the fifteen."

"It's less credit to have a pack of louts who tumble head over heels
every time they try to pick up a ball, and funk a charge twice out of
every thrice!" retorted Stansfield, who was one of the peppery order.
"Greenfield's worth any half-dozen of you, I tell you."

"Better get him to play Landfield by himself," growled Loman, who
generally got the worst of it in discussions like this.

"It's a plaguey nuisance, that's what it is," said Stansfield; "we are
sure to get licked. Who's to play half-back instead of him, I'd like to
know?"

"Forrester, in the Fourth, plays a very good half-back," said Callonby;
"he's tremendously quick on his feet."

"Yes, but he can't kick. I've a good mind to put Wraysford in the
place. And yet he's such a rattling steady `back' I don't like to move
him."

"Wraysford told me yesterday," said Wren, "he wasn't going to play."

"What!" exclaimed Stansfield, starting up as if he had been shot.
"Wraysford not going to play!"

"So he said," replied Wren.

"Oh, this is a drop too much! Why ever not?"

"I don't know. He's been awfully down