immensely aware of their
own importance, made their way to "the Bull's" study to pour out their
grievances. "The Bull" was laid up with influenza, and had been
prevented from watching the match. They found him lying on his sofa. For
over an hour they elaborated the tale of Gordon's misconduct.

They pointed out that the object of house matches was to promote a
keenness in school football, and to provide interest for those who were
not good enough to get into the school team. The School House had for
years during the Easter term isolated itself from the rest of the
school. It had considered itself as apart, a school in itself. Such an
attitude militated against _esprit de corps_; it made the house appear
more important than the school. It led to bad feeling between houses. In
Caruthers were developed all the worst faults of this system. His
keenness for his house had so far drowned his affection for his school
that he used any tactics to reach his end. He took defeat in an
unsportsmanlike manner. This afternoon's play had made this clear. And
what was worst of all was that Caruthers had a sufficient personality to
attract others. "Moths are always attracted by the flame," said Rogers
pompously. If Caruthers were dealt with effectively at once, this
poisonous School House notion of its own importance would collapse. Was
it going to be put an end to? That was the question they put to Mr
Buller; and they took over an hour in putting it.

"The Bull" listened to all they had to say, and as soon as they began
repeating themselves, and he realised they had given all the information
they could, told them he had now to dress for dinner, but that he would
consider the matter carefully and let them know his opinion later on.
Like two obsequious courtiers before an Eastern monarch, Rogers and
Christy bowed themselves out, inarticulate with advice and last words.

"The Bull" smiled. He was too big a man to be taken in by such obvious
hypocrisy. These men amused him greatly, especially because they both
thought he took them seriously. But, for all that, he saw that there was
a good deal of truth in what they had said. He wished he had been at the
game himself. It was so hard to form an estimate on the strength of
partial onlookers. Princeford's refereeing might have been exasperating;
but, damn it, even if it had, a sportsman should not make a fuss about
it! It was all part of the game. But Caruthers did not treat a House
match as a