r the line. A
kick failed. Half-time came, Hazelton came on, and said a lot of things
to him, which he answered unconsciously.

A whistle blew. Once more the magenta jerseys swept everything before
them. There seemed no white jerseys at all. Numberless times he watched
Lovelace taking the place kick. He thought he heard Mansell shrieking:
"Heave it into them! Well done! Now you've got them!" Once he had a
sensation of kicking the ball past the halves; he seemed clear, the
full-back rushed up and fell in front of him, the ball stopped for a
second, then rolled on. He heard someone coming up behind him; the line
grew dimly white under his feet; he fell on the ball; there was a roar
of cheering. The whistle went in short, sharp blasts. The game was over.

And then he realised that the House had won, that his hopes were
satisfied, that the Buller crowd had been routed, that the cup would
shimmer on the mantelpiece. A wave of wild exultation came over him. The
House poured over the touch-line, yelling and shouting. It was all "a
wonder and a wild desire."

Then came the glorious reaction, "the bright glory of after battle
wine." The tea in the tuck-shop. They were out of training. Then the
perfect laziness of lying full-length in his hammock, talking of the
splendid victory. Then came the House tea. It was much like the Roman
triumph. The whole House sat in their places ten minutes before six.
Tablecloths were removed; everyone took down heavy books, boots, sticks.
Then when the Abbey struck six, Lovelace led the side into hall, up to
the dais, to the Sixth Form table. Everyone shouted, roared, beat the
tables. Dust arose. It was very hard to breathe. The Chief came and made
a speech. There was more shouting, more shrieking, more beating of
tables.

At last hall came with its gift of real rest. Gordon lay in the hammock,
Lovelace reposed with his feet on the table. Everyone came in to
congratulate them. Hazelton invited them in second hall to supper in the
games study; the gramophone played rag-time choruses. Gordon sang all of
them. Everyone was gloriously, unutterably happy.

Meredith sent a wire: "Well done, House: now for the Two Cock."

In the dormitory Hazelton was talking over the match.

"By Jove, when that side is the Three Cock, we shall win by fifty
points. Lord, I do envy you, Caruthers! You will see the day, and be in
at the finish. I shall only shout from the touch-line." And he added:
"My God, I shall