rning."

Betteridge intoned the whole lecture. The story was in a way true, but
the Stevenson in question had shouted down the passage: "Hurrah, no
prep. to-night; my name is down for the confirmation stakes." With the
result as above. Gordon burst out:

"By the way, talking of Macdonald, he made a priceless remark to-day.
Kennedy, that little cove in Christy's, came in late and began
stammering out that it was only a minute or two over time; Macdonald
looked on him for a minute, and then said: 'Your excuse is just about as
good as the woman's who, having had an illegitimate baby, protested that
it was only a small one.'"

"By Jove, he's some fellow. Now he's a man," said Mansell. "He's a boy
still; he can see our side of the question, and he knows what footling
idiots half of the common room are. If we had more like him." ...

"And it would be a jolly good thing, too," said Betteridge, "if we could
get a really young master like that Winchborough man, Ferrers, I was
telling you about. He'd stir things up a bit."

At that moment the Abbey sounded half-past eight.

"Good Lord," said Hunter, "only quarter of an hour more, and we've done
nothing the whole of hall. Let's rout out Lovelace and go and rag Rudd."

In three minutes Rudd was under the table, with Mansell seated on his
chest.

It was rather unfortunate that Gordon should have chosen Tester to have
a study with. Tester was over sixteen, was in the Lower Sixth, and had
got his Seconds at cricket. He was a House blood. Gordon did not care
for him particularly. But he had a good study, No. 1, at the far end of
the lower landing, and Gordon wanted a big study. It was so very fine to
sit chatting to Foster or Collins in one of the small studies for a
little time and then to say suddenly, in a lordly manner: "Oh, look
here, there's no room here at all. Come down to my study, there are
several arm-chairs there!"

It is always pleasant to appear better than one's equals. But Tester was
a dangerous friend to have at a time when the mind is so open to
impressions. For Tester had not risen to his position on his own merits
alone. Lovelace major had always said he was not much good, and the year
before had not given him his House cap. But Tester was a very great
friend of Stewart's, the captain of the Eleven. Stewart gave him his
Seconds for making twenty against the town, so Meredith had to give him
his House cap. It is a school rule that a "Seconds" must have his