ord a
sneak. Then did they kick all the little boys within reach, and scowl
furiously upon the big ones. Then did they wish the mare was dead and
Templeton a ruin!

As, when Jove frowns and Mercury and Vulcan scowl, the hills hide their
heads and the valleys tremble beneath the storm, so did the youth of
Mountjoy quake and cower that evening as it raised its eyes and beheld
those three gloomy heroes devour their beef and drink their swipes. No
one ventured to ask how they had fared, or wherefore they looked sad;
but they knew something had happened. The little boys gazed with awe-
struck wonder at the heroes who had that day been at Templeton, and
contended for Templeton honours. The elder boys wondered if gloom was
part of Templeton "form," and when their turn would come to look as
black and majestic; and all marvelled at the supper those three ate, and
at the chasm they left in the cold boiled beef!

"Come on, you fellows," said Richardson, as soon as the meal was
finished. "I'm going to bed; I'm fagged."

"So am I," said Heathcote.

"So am I," said Coote.

And the triumvirate stalked from the room, leaving Mountjoy more than
ever convinced something terrific had happened.

If Coote had had his way, he would rather have stayed up. He slept in a
different room from Richardson and Heathcote, and it was rather slow
going to bed by himself at half-past seven. But as it was evident from
Dick's manner that this was the proper course to take under the
circumstances, he took it, and was very soon dreaming that he and Edward
the Fifth's father were trotting round the Templeton quadrangle on the
mare, much to the admiration of the Templeton boys, who assembled in
their thousands to witness the exploit.

Next day the uncomfortable topic of the mare and the waggonette was
renewed in a long conference with Mr Ashford.

As supper was no longer pending, and as a night's rest had intervened,
the boys were rather more disposed to enter into details. But they
failed to satisfy Mr Ashford that they were not to blame for what had
occurred.

"I am less concerned," said he, "about the damage done to the waggonette
than I am to think I cannot trust you as fully as I ought to be able to
trust my head boys. I hope during the week or two that remains of this
term you will try to win back the confidence you have lost. I must, in
justice to my other boys, punish you. Under the circumstances, I shall
not cane you, but till