usic."

"Oh no, I can't! I can't! I'm younger than you. I never asked the woman
for the chicken, and I begged you to let me off fetching it. You can
call me a coward if you like; I don't care! I am afraid!"

There was silence for a moment, and then Cadbury spoke, but in an
altered voice.

"Do you mean to say that you want me to leave your name out entirely?"

"Y--yes. If I get in a row it'll be mentioned in my report, and I shall
catch it at home. I don't believe you feel things like I do. And it was
all your doing, wasn't it?"

"Mostly. Very well, I sha'n't mention you, Grey."

And with that Cadbury marched out of the housemaid's cupboard with his
hands in his pockets.

Prayers were followed by early prep., and early prep., by breakfast,
without a word on the subject uppermost in the minds of so many. The
day-boys arrived, and saw at once that something was up, though what
they could not make out. But at ten minutes to nine Mr. Peace entered
the room with an excited air, and announced that all the boys were to
stand together as at drill. Mr. West wished to speak to them.

[Illustration]

The head appeared almost immediately, and ordered the occupants of the
two rooms, headed by Hallett and Trevelyan, to stand in front.

He began with a short, studied preface about "an unpleasant duty" and
"flagrant breach of rules"; then gave a brief _resume_ of what had taken
place, and proceeded to personal enquiries.

"Where did the chicken come from? Who brought it into the house?"

Cadbury stood forward.

"So you are responsible for this, Cadbury? Anyone else?"

"No, sir."

"How did you obtain possession of the chicken?"

"It--got run over--and killed--in bicycling. I mean, I was bicycling."

"Did you steal it, then, or buy it?"

"The woman it belonged to gave it to me, sir."

"After you'd run over it?"

"After it was dead, sir."

"And who cooked it?"

"She did, sir."

"Cadbury, Cadbury! how dare you put forward such a story as this? I
can't believe a word of it."

"It's true, sir."

"True! that after you had killed a chicken, the owner not only presented
you with it, but undertook to cook it for you?"

"Yes, sir."

Mr. West's only comment on this affirmation was a deep sigh.

Further examination failed to make Cadbury contradict himself; but to
certain enquiries he politely declined to furnish an answer.

"Was any boy with you at the time who can bear witness to your story?

"Will you give