id the Hermit. "It would have told better if I
could really have knocked him down. However, I fancy it's as well it
didn't come to a brush."

"But _can_ you box, old man?"

"We must try one fine day. But now about the Club. I want you to help
me draw up a scheme for my committee."

And the two friends spent the rest of the evening in one of the most
gratifying tasks that ever fell to the lot of two honest seniors.

A very different conversation was taking place a few studies away, where
Pledge found himself alone with his fag for the first time since the boy
had avowed his reconciliation with Dick.

"Ah, Georgie, I don't see much of you now. My study's badly off for
dusting."

"I'm very sorry, Pledge; I really hadn't time."

"No? Busy reading the police news, I suppose, and seeing how young
gentlemen behave themselves in the dock?"

Heathcote flushed up, though from a very different cause from that which
his senior suspected. In the new terror about Tom White, the youngster
had forgotten all about Webster's pencil-case.

"You're going it, Georgie," said the monitor; "the inevitable result of
bad company. You'll want me to go bail for you after all."

"I don't know what you are talking about," said the boy, with a
confusion that belied the words.

"Well, I may be able to pull you through it better than you think,
though, of course, I'm not such a great gun as Dick. However, what I
want you for now is to go and post this letter at the head office."

"Why, it's half-past eight," said Heathcote.

"Wonderful! and the post goes at nine!"

"But I mean I shall get in a row for going out."

"Wonderful again! If anyone asks you, say I told you to go. Look
alive!"

Heathcote took the letter mechanically and went. He was too dazed to
argue the matter, and too much disturbed by Pledge's apparent knowledge
of the scrape which was weighing on him and his friends to care to run
the risk of offending him just now.

As he was creeping across the Quadrangle, a door opened, and Mansfield
confronted him.

"Where are you going?"

"To the post. Pledge gave me leave."

"Go back to your room," said Mansfield, shutting the door.

"He's forgotten to give me lines," said Georgie to himself. "By Jove!
I hope he's not going to send me up to Winter!"

To Georgie's surprise, he got neither lines nor a message to go to Dr
Winter. But, as he was about to retire to rest, he received a summons
from the Captain t