d to a new senior?"

"It's not my choice; Mansfield moved me," said Heathcote, feeling and
looking very uncomfortable.

"And I fancy I can hear the fervour with which you said, 'God bless you,
for saving me from Pledge, Mansfield,' when he moved you."

"I said nothing of the sort. I knew nothing about it, I tell you, till
he told me."

"Quite a delicious surprise. But you really mustn't be seen here," said
Pledge, with a sneer. "The holy ones will think I am luring you back to
perdition."

"I don't care what they say," said the boy.

"Oh, Georgie! How ungrateful! how sinful of you! Go to them. They may
even be able to tell you how to enjoy yourself in a police cell."

It was gratifying to the senior to see the gasp with which the boy
received this random shot.

"What do you mean?" faltered the latter.

"Really, hadn't you better ask Swinstead? He's your protector now. I
have no business to interfere."

"Do tell me what you mean?" said the boy, imploringly.

But just at that moment a step sounded in the passage outside, and
Mansfield entered the study.

Heathcote promptly vanished, and Pledge, face to face with his
antagonist, had something else to think about than Mr Webster's pencil.
The Captain, who had great faith in striking the iron while it is hot,
had come down on the heels of his letter, determined that if any
understanding was to be come to between him and Pledge, it should be
come to promptly.

"You've had my note?" said he.

"Really, Mansfield," began Pledge, "I've no doubt it's an honour to
receive a call from the Captain, but you seem to forget this is my
study, not your's."

"You sent Heathcote out last night on purpose," said Mansfield, ignoring
the protest, "and what I want to know now is whether you are going to
resign your monitorship or not?"

Pledge's eyes blazed out as he met the Captain's determined face and
cool eyes.

"You don't seem to have heard what I said?" he replied.

"I heard every word, and you heard my question?" answered the Captain.

"And suppose I don't choose to answer your question?"

"Then I'll answer it for you. If you choose to resign, you may. If you
don't--"

"Well?"

"You cease to be a monitor, all the same."

"Who says so?" asked Pledge, sharply, and with pale lips.

"I say so, as Captain here," said Mansfield, coolly.

"You! You're not Templeton. You may be a great man in your own eyes,
but you're only a schoolboy after all. I a