ted for him had made
sure other fellows would. But when five names were read out, and it was
found that even Swinstead and Frith were elected, a sudden tide of
repentance set in, which found vent in an unexpected cheer as the
Captain's name followed. Templeton felt it had had a narrow escape of
making itself foolish, and the cheer was quite as much one of relief as
of congratulation.

Mansfield may have understood it. He had kept his eyes steadily on the
reader, with a slight flush on his quiet face, and fellows who watched
him could not tell whether the peculiar gleam which passed his eyes as
his name was read was one of triumph or vexation. Whatever it was,
every one knew the Captain would be altered neither in purpose nor
motive by the incident. Jupiter would be Jupiter still, whether in
Olympus or out of it; and Templeton, on the whole, felt that, had the
vote gone otherwise, it would have had quite as much blushing to do as
the defeated hero.

The scrutineer continued his list in order of forms. Of our particular
acquaintance, Birket, Hooker, Duffield, Braider, and Aspinall all got
safely "landed," while Bull, Wrangham, and Spokes were passed over.

Templeton, in fact, was a very good judge of honour when it was put to
the choice, and even the enemies of the new Club could not help
admitting that the best men, on the whole, were the elected ones.

A grim silence fell on the Hall as the scrutineer said--

"Now, Gentlemen, the Upper Third. The following are elected:--

"Richardson."

Dick caught his breath and felt he dared not move a muscle. Pledge was
looking that way, and, as the boy's eyes and his enemy's met, the cheers
of the Den sounded feeble, and the shouts of the Firm were spiritless.

"Pauncefote."

Dick started again at this and shook off the spell that was upon him.
How dared Pauncefote come between him and his Firm? If fellows voted
for him--Dick--what on earth did they mean by not voting also for
Georgie and Coote? He faced defiantly round towards the reader and
waited for the next name.

"Smith."

Dick quailed as he listened to the mighty cheer with which Pauncefote
welcomed his chum into the realms of the Select. Pauncefote and Smith
were partners; they hunted in couples, they wrote novels together: and
here they were side by side, while the "Firm" was cruelly severed member
from member. Surely Nemesis was having a fling too many if this was her
doing!

"Heathcote."

"Ah