said pettishly. "Go and bowl."

"Shan't, without you," was the only reply I could get, and I lay turning
my head from side to side, trying to find a cool spot on the pillow, to
hear every now and then a shout from the field, and then a burst of
plaudits, or cries of, "Well run!"

"Bravo!"

"Well fielded!" and more hand-clapping, all borne faintly in at the
window, where Mercer sat with his arms folded, gazing out, but unable to
see the field from where he was.

After a time I once more dropped off into a doze and woke again with a
start, under the impression that I had been asleep all day.

My head was not quite so bad, and, after lying still, thinking, and
listening to the shouts from the cricket-field, I said weakly,--

"Have they nearly done, Tom?"

"Done! No, of course not."

"What time is it?"

"Don't know. Haven't got a watch."

"Well, what time do you think it is?"

"'Bout two. They've just gone to the wickets again after lunch."

"Why don't you go and join them now?"

"You know. How's your head?"

"A little better, I think."

"Well enough to come down and look on?"

"Oh no," I said, with a shudder; "I feel too sick and ill for that."

"Have another snooze, then, and you'll be better still."

"But it's too bad to keep you out of the fun," I said.

"I didn't grumble. Go to sleep."

I determined that I would not, but I did, and woke again, to repeat my
question about the time, and receive the answer that my companion had
not got a watch.

"How long have I been asleep, then?" I asked.

"'Bout an hour. Here! hi! what are you going to do?"

"Get up, and go down in the field," I said.

"Hooray! Then it's all right again?"

"No," I replied; "but it's a little better, and I should like to go and
lie down under the big hedge, and see our fellows win."

"Come, I do like that," cried Mercer eagerly, as I went to the
wash-stand, well bathed my temples, and then, feeling very sick and
faint, but not in such pain, I put on my jacket and boots, and we went
slowly down-stairs, and out into the field, where every one was too
intent to take much notice of us, as Tom led me up to the big hedge,
where I lay down on the grass about fifty yards from where the tent
stood close up; and from time to time I saw the boys who were about to
go in to bat, go to the tent to take off their jackets and vests, and
come out ready for the fight.

Our boys were in, and I saw Dicksee change and go to the w