go in for
conduct that "paid," that he called a spade a spade, and that he didn't
profess to be what he wasn't; and yet all this failed to place him
higher than last but one of thirty-six boys, among whom, only four
months ago, he stood fifteenth! Even Dick had beaten him now, although
Dick himself had fallen ten places down the list.

The two friends had a dreary walk round the deserted Fields that
afternoon.

"I can't make it out," said Heathcote. "I knew I hadn't done well, but
I expected to be higher than that. I wonder if Winter's got a spite
against me."

"More likely got one against me. Did you hear the way he read out my
name?"

"Yes; he may have been surprised you came out so high."

"It's nothing to joke about," said Dick. "We've both made a mess of
it."

"I really thought I'd done my lessons pretty steadily," said Heathcote,
loth to part with the idea that there must be a mistake somewhere.

"You mean Pledge did them for you. I tell you what, old man--I've had
enough of this sort of mess. I don't like it."

"No more do I," said Heathcote, very truly.

"I mean to get my remove at Christmas, if I get brain-fever over it."

"Rather; so do I," said Heathcote.

"I shall have a go in at the irregular verbs during the holidays."

"Eh--will you?" asked Georgie, beginning to stagger a little at the new
programme. "All serene; so will I."

"We might begin to-night, perhaps."

"Awfully sorry--I've an engagement to-night," said Heathcote.

"Where?"

This was the first occasion on which Dick had asked this very awkward
question. It was the wind-up supper of the "Select Sociables" for the
present term, and to Heathcote one of the chief attractions of the
prospect had been that Dick, being a member, would be there too. He
was, therefore, startled somewhat at the inquiry.

"Oh, you know. We don't talk about it," said he.

"So it seems," said Dick; "but it happens I don't know."

"Don't you? Then the fellows must have told me a cram."

"What fellows?"

"Why, do you mean to say you don't know, Dick?"

"How should I?"

"Haven't they asked you, too? Aren't you a-- I mean, don't you know?"

At this particular moment, Cresswell came across the Quadrangle with a
bundle of books in his hands, which he told Dick to take to his study.

And before Dick had time to perform his task and return to the Quad,
Braider had pounced on Heathcote, and borne him away, in hot haste, to
the orgy of the