fternoon, if you like.
Some of the 'sharks' will be down as well."

Heathcote began to discover he had done a foolish thing; and when he
found his friend launching the "sharks" at his head in this familiar way
he felt it was no use holding out any longer.

"It was awfully low of me not to call you this morning," said he, "but
you looked so fast asleep, you know."

"So I was," said Dick, unbending. "I'm glad you didn't rout me up, for
I was regularly fagged last night."

"What time will you be going this afternoon?"

"Depends. I've got to see one of the Sixth as soon as he turns up, but
that won't take long."

Heathcote retired routed. His friend was too many for him. He
(Heathcote) had no one bigger than Swinstead and Birket to impress his
friend with. Dick had "sharks," and behind them "one of the Sixth."
What was the use of opposing himself to such odds?

"Wait for us, won't you?" was all he could say; and next moment they
were at their respective desks, and school had begun.

Dick's quick ears caught the sound of cabs in the quadrangle and the
noise of luggage in the hall while school was going on, and his mind
became a little anxious as the prospect of his coming interview loomed
nearer before him. He hoped Cresswell was a jolly fellow, and that
there would be no one else in his study when he went to call upon him.
He had carefully studied the geography of his fortress, so he knew
exactly where to go without asking any one, which was a blessing.

As soon as class was over he made his way to the matron's room.

"Do you know if Cresswell has come yet, please."

"Yes, what do you want with him?"

"Oh! nothing," said Dick dissembling, "I only wanted to know."

And he removed himself promptly from the reach of further questions.

Little dreaming of the visit with which he was to be so shortly
honoured, Cresswell, the fleetest foot and the steadiest head in
Templeton, was complacently unpacking his goods and chattels in the
privacy of his own study. He wasn't sorry to get back to Templeton, for
he was fond of the old place, and the summer term was always the
jolliest of the year. There was cricket coming on, and lawn tennis, and
the long evening runs, and the early morning dips. And there was plenty
of work ahead in the schools too, and the prospect of an exhibition at
Midsummer, if only Freckleton gave him the chance.

Altogether the Sixth-form athlete was in a contented frame of mind, as
he em