ell not
going to try any more that term.

During the final senior he was strolling round the field with Tester,
both of them in cloth suits, unchanged for games. "The Bull" came up
behind them.

"Caruthers, why aren't you changed this afternoon?"

"Well sir, we only had a House game this afternoon, so Tester and I got
leave off to watch the match."

"But your House is not playing in it."

"No, sir."

"Well, then, what on earth do you mean by slacking about the field like
this? It's your duty to be training yourself too, so that some day you
may be of some use to Fernhurst, and here are you slacking about,
instead of asking the pro. to give you a net. Slackness! filthy
slackness! I don't know what's wrong with you this term; you were quite
keen once."

He strolled off, scratching the back of his head. "The Bull" always did
this when in a bad temper.

"Poor old chap," murmured Tester, "he takes these little things so much
to heart. He loathes me because I don't sweat myself to death all day at
the nets. He never said anything to me; he has given me up as a bad job.
Poor old chap!"

"Well, I suppose we ought to have been at the nets," said Gordon.

"If we did everything that we ought to do in this world, we should never
have a moment's time to do the things we liked."

"I suppose so," said Gordon, "but still, you know--oh, well, what the
hell does it matter? By Jove, well hit, Dyke!"

The conversation turned again to the match.

Next term Gordon had arranged to have a study with Lovelace. Tester was
going to be a prefect, and wanted to himself the big upstairs study that
Clarke had had. Gordon was staying in No. 1.

He was not sorry. He did not quite understand Tester; he was too clever,
and Gordon never knew exactly what he was driving at. Lovelace, on the
other hand, was his best friend; they had played together in several
sides, and next term Lovelace would captain the footer Colts. The future
seemed very roseate. Moreover, he was certain to get into the Sixth, and
that meant many privileges. He did not have to attend rolls, he could be
late for tea, there was no need for him to get leave to speak to anyone
in hall. It meant many study hours, and it would also bring him into
contact with the Olympians. There was Garter, who had been in the Sixth
four terms, and was in the Second Fifteen. He would meet Betteridge.
There was Rudd to rag. Prothero had reduced his time-table to one hour
in school a day, a