finery: "hope to see you in an eleven this season. Ah, Gosse, my
boy; quiet as ever, eh? You're an inch taller than last levee. How are
you, Pauncefote? How are you, Smith? How goes the novel? not dead, I
hope?"

"No; it's going on," said Pauncefote, blushing.

"Put me down for a copy," said the captain. "Hullo! here come the new
boys."

Time did not appear to have endowed our heroes yet with confidence or
elegance in the art of ascending the Templeton platform. Dick still
retained a painful recollection of his legs, and Heathcote was torn
asunder by the cruel vagaries of his high collar, which would not keep
on the button, but insisted on heeling over, choker and all, at critical
moments to one side. Aspinall made a more respectable show, for he was
too nervous to bestow a thought on his dress, or to notice the curious
eyes turned upon him from remote corners.

New boys were always presented by their seniors, and it was a critical
moment when Cresswell, taking Dick and Aspinall, one by each arm, said
in an audible voice:--

"Captain, allow me to introduce Mr Richardson and Mr Aspinall, two new
boys."

Dick bowed as gracefully as he could, and watched the captain's hand
sharply, in case it might show signs of expecting to be shaken, which it
did, with a cheery--

"Very glad to see you, Richardson. I hear you won the new boys' race.
You've got a good trainer in Cresswell. How do you do, Aspinall?
Feeling more at home here, aren't you? I recollect how lost I was the
first time I tumbled into school."

"Captain, allow me to introduce Mr Heathcote," said Pledge.

Poor Heathcote, whose choker had now got round to his back, turned
crimson, and said, "Thank you," and then made a grab at the captain's
hand, by way of hiding his confusion.

"Ah, how are you, Heathcote?" said the magnate kindly. "Hope to see
plenty of you in the 'Tub,' and down field. You new boys should show up
out of doors all you can."

Mansfield was not the only senior standing by who heard and appreciated
this delicate hint. Pledge heard it too, and knew what it meant.

"If old Ponty," said Mansfield to Cresswell, "would only follow it up,
what a splendid captain he would be. There's not another fellow can go
through levee the way he does. He strokes down everybody. Goodness
knows, when my turn comes, I shall come a cropper."

"Your turn will come soon, if Ponty leaves this term. You're bound to
have levee in your first wee