frank in the matter. As far as I can see, it is the only extenuating
circumstance. Harding, Hazelton, one minute."

Gordon returned to the studies amused rather than disconcerted. He quite
saw that the Chief, with his high ideals, would refuse to allow two
blacks to make a white, even if that black were of the grey-black shade
of which colour boys were allowed to get their school suits made, and
which produced anything from light grey to dark brown. He understood and
respected the Chief's point of view entirely. But with "the Bull" he was
furious. No one but "the Bull" could have reported him; and, "the Bull"
after all, was an old Fernhurstian. He knew the school customs, and
unless his memory was decaying, must have remembered the wild way in
which boys boast. He must have known it; but "for the sake of
Fernhurst," Buller would say, "this leprosy has to be rooted out."
Gordon began to wonder whether it was really a love of Fernhurst that
was his standard for all actions, or simply a supreme egotism, which
embraced alternately his own interest, his house's interest, and
Fernhurst's interest, but never, under any circumstances, never the
School House interest!

Hazelton thought much the same. At the Chief's request he made a
characteristic speech to the House after prayers.

"Someone who imagines himself a sportsman, and who refuses to disclose
his name, but whose identity we can only guess at, has been making some
silly remarks about certain play and behaviour in the House. Of course
that is all rot. But people have strange ideas, especially those in
authority, and we have to be very careful. So for heaven's sake don't go
shouting out that you are going to lay everyone out. It only means a
row, and, after all, you can do it just as well without talking about
it."

There was a roar of laughter; the old system survived.

Next morning in break Gordon passed Buller on his way to the tuck-shop.
"The Bull" cut him dead.

The day after, the Chief having made up his mind on the matter, told
Gordon that his Sixth Form privileges had been taken away.

Before a large crowd, in full view of Chief's study window, Gordon that
afternoon burnt his straw hat with the Sixth form ribbon on it, and
stood over the smouldering ashes proclaiming in tragic tones: "The glory
has departed from Israel." His old passion for a theatrical piece of
rodomontade was not yet subdued.

* * * * *

For a short ti