"Select Sociables," where he spent a very unprofitable
evening in trying to square his conscience with all he saw and heard,
and in trying to ascertain from every member of the Club he could get
hold of, why Dick wasn't there, too. He was not released without a
renewal of his promise of secrecy, and spent a very uncomfortable half-
hour in the dormitory that evening, trying, as best he could, to parry
the questions of his friend, into whose head it had never entered that
the "Select Sociables," after ejecting him, should dream of such a thing
as electing Heathcote. They might have quarrelled over the mystery, had
not the approaching holidays, and an opportune note from Coote,
announcing that he had just scraped through the pass examination for
"second chances," and would be at Templeton after the recess, driven all
other thoughts, for the time being, out of their heads. And the few
remaining days of the term were devoted, not to irregular verbs, but to
the devising of glorious schemes of welcome to old Coote, and
anticipations of the joys of their reformed triple alliance.

The great result day found Templeton, as it always did, in the chaos of
packing up. At the summons of the great bell, to come and hear the
lists read in the Hall, fellows dropped collars and coats, rackets and
rods, boots and bookstand rushed for a front seat.

Every one turned up to the summer list--even the housekeepers and the
school porter. The masters were there in caps and gowns, and the Sixth,
in solemn array, occupied the benches on the dais. The rest of the Hall
was left to the first comers; and, as all Templeton, on this occasion,
arrived first in a body, the scene was usually animated.

Dr Winter read the list himself, and every name rang through the Hall,
being followed with cheers which made all the more striking the silence
with which the next name was listened for.

"The Bishop's Scholarship has been won by Freckleton," said the Doctor.

Amazement, as well as approval, mingled with the applause which followed
this most unexpected announcement.

"Which _is_ Freckleton?" asked Dick of Swinstead, who sat in front.

"That dark fellow, talking to Mansfield."

"Silence! Pledge was second, and within a few marks. Cartwright was
third."

"How pleased Winter must have been to find those marks the right way!"
whispered Pledge, with the red spots on his cheeks, to Bull. "It's a
funny thing that Freckleton should be a nephew of W