op of number _six_
was packed, and still Mansfield stood across the door.

Should they throw themselves on his mercy, or hurl themselves between
his feet, and overturn him, if haply they might escape in the confusion?
How they hated that Grandcourt fellow who talked to him. What business
had he to keep a Templeton fellow there catching cold? Why hadn't all
Grandcourt been ordered to bed directly after supper?

Horrors! Coach six shouted "All right!" and rattled off.

"We're done for," said Heathcote. "We may as well show up."

"Stay where you are," said Dick; "we shall have to hang on behind the
coach the Eleven go in."

"But, Dick, they're all monitors!"

"Can't be helped," said Dick, peremptorily.

The Eleven's coach drove up, and all Grandcourt turned out with a final
cheer for their conquerors. Mansfield shook hands with his friend, and
climbed up on to the box. The rest followed. Ponty rambled out among
the last. He looked up at the crowded roof, and didn't like it. It was
far too much grind for the dear fellow to swarm up there.

"I'll go inside, Cresswell. Come on; we'll get a seat each, and make
ourselves comfortable."

Cresswell laughed.

"If you hadn't made that catch, old man," said he, "I'd say you were the
laziest beggar I ever saw. But as you've a right to give your orders,
I'll obey. Lead on, mighty captain."

Our heroes shivered, and wondered if any sin in the calendar were equal
to that of sloth! With all the Eleven on the top, they had had a chance
yet of weathering "Mrs" Nemesis, and hanging on behind. But with the
captain and whipper-in inside, they might as well try and hang on a
lion's tail.

"All U P, old man," groaned Heathcote.

"Slip out sharp!" said Dick excitedly. "Our only chance is to get ahead
of them, and pick them up on the road."

Scarcely any one noticed the two dismayed little Templetonians, as they
squeezed out of the gate, with their caps drawn over their eyes, and
their heads diligently turned away from the coach of the Eleven. One
fellow, however, spotted them, and scared the wits out of them, by
saying "Hallo! here are two youngsters left behind. Get inside this
coach; there's lots of room. Look alive, they're starting."

"Oh, thanks!" said Dick, scarcely able to speak for the jumping of his
heart, "we're going to do a trot the first mile or so. Thanks awfully!
Good-bye." And to the amazement of the Grandcourtier, the small pair
started to r