his promise to the "Select Sociables," and the
vision of Braider watching him from a distance, held him where he was.

How he wished he could have a fit, or break his arm, or have his nose
bleed; anything to get him out of this hobble!

But no. He saw Dick ascend the dais and shake hands with the Captain,
who looked almost amiable as he spoke a few words to him. He saw
Pauncefote and Smith and the other, loyal ones come in for the same
greeting. He saw Coote and his watered ribbon being presented by
Cartwright, and he caught sight of Pledge looking up and down the room,
possibly in search of his Georgie.

All this he saw, and yet could not stir. Only when he saw Dick descend
the platform and slowly return towards the door, did the spell yield and
permit him to escape to the Quad.

There half an hour later he was found by Pledge.

"Hullo, youngster; you didn't turn up at the pantomime, then?"

"No," said Heathcote, "I didn't want to."

"What! not want to be shaken hands with and blessed by the holy
Mansfield? You naughty boy, to neglect such a short cut to peace and
plenty!"

"I don't want to toady to anybody," said Heathcote, bitterly.

"Of course you don't. But I'm afraid your courage will cost you
something in impositions and detentions, and that sort of thing."

"What do I care? I'd sooner have any amount of them than be a humbug
and truckle to anybody."

"Every one," said Pledge, with an approving smile, "made sure when your
friend Richardson came to do homage, that you would come too. I was
quite pleased to find I knew better and was right."

"I don't know what made Dick go," said Heathcote.

"No? Can't you guess? Isn't Dick a good boy, and doesn't he always do
what good boys do?"

Heathcote laughed.

"I don't think he's very much in that line."

"Well, he imitates it very well," said Pledge, watching his man
carefully, "and I've no doubt he will find it worth his while."

"What do you mean?" inquired Heathcote, looking up.

"I mean that Mansfield is picking his men for the 3rd Football Fifteen,
and I'm afraid you won't be in it, my boy."

Heathcote said nothing, but walked on to the school door where he and
his patron parted company; the latter proceeding to his study with a
particularly amiable smile on his countenance; the former repairing to
the adjourned meeting of the "Select Sociables," there to hear high
praises of his loyalty and steadfastness, and to partake of a very
sel