make the club big enough to take in any fellow who,
like all of you, hates cowardice, and meanness, and dirtiness, and that
sort of thing. (Cheers, not unmixed with blushes.) We may not all
think alike about everything, but, if we are all agreed it's good form
to be gentlemen, and honest and brave, I don't see why we can't be
'Select Sociables' still. We pride ourselves at Templeton on being one
of the crack schools in the country. (Loud cheers.) Well, any lot of
fellows who set up for the 'Select' here ought to be the crack of the
crack--like you all, for instance. However, these are only suggestions.
Now I'm your president I mean to work hard for the club and do my
best--(cheers)--and I ask you to back me up. (Cheers.) I think, by way
of a start, we might appoint a committee of, say, half a dozen, to look
into the rules and see how they can be improved, and how the club can be
made of most use to Templeton. What do you say?"

Cheers greeted the suggestion, and several names were proposed. The six
elected included Spokes and Braider, and it was evident, from the half-
nervous, half-gratified manner in which these two undertook their new
responsibilities, that the Hermit had found out the trick of bringing
out the good points even of the most unpromising boys.

The Club separated with cheers for the new president, and scarcely yet
realising the transformation scene which he had made in their midst. A
few, such as Wrangham, skulked off, but the majority took up the new
order of things with ardour, and vied with one another in showing that
they at any rate were bent on making the Club a credit.

Freckleton meanwhile retired to report the success of his mission to
Mansfield.

"Well, have you got their names and cautioned them?" asked the Captain.

"I'm very hot and thirsty," said the Hermit, flinging himself down on a
chair.

"Yes, yes; but what about this bad club?"

"Call it not bad, Jupiter, for I am its president."

"What! you its president!" cried the Captain, taking in the mystery at a
bound. "You mean to say you've talked them over! By Jove! Freckleton,
you ought to be Captain of Templeton."

"Thank you; I've quite enough to do as president of the 'Select
Sociables.'"

And he then proceeded to give a modest history of the evening's
proceedings.

Mansfield was delighted at every particular.

"But suppose Bull had fought you," said he, "where would you be now?"

"Better off, I think," sa