ogether; for the
strangers entered into it all, and threw away their cigars, and danced
and shouted like boys, while old Mr. Aislabie stood by looking on in
his white hat, leaning on a bat, in benevolent enjoyment. "This hop
will be worth thirty runs[10] to us to-morrow, and will be the making
of Raggles and Johnson," thinks the young leader, as he revolves many
things in his mind, standing by the side of Mr. Aislabie, whom he will
not leave for a minute, for he feels that the character of the School
for courtesy is resting on his shoulders.

[7] #By three wickets#: three players yet to bat.

[8] #Hard-bitten#: keen.

[9] #Lawrence Sheriff#: See note on Rugby, p. 72.

[10] #Runs#: the running from one wicket to the other by the
batsmen. The game depends on these runs.

But when a quarter to nine struck, and he saw old Thomas beginning to
fidget about with the keys in his hand, he thought of the Doctor's
parting monition, and stopped the cornopean at once, notwithstanding
the loud-voiced remonstrances from all sides; and the crowd scattered
away from the close, the eleven all going into the School-house, where
supper and beds were provided by the Doctor's orders.

Deep had been the consultations at supper as to the order of going in,
who should bowl the first over,[11] whether it would be best to play
steady or freely; and the youngest hands declared that they shouldn't
be a bit nervous, and praised their opponents as the jolliest fellows
in the world, except, perhaps, their old friends, the Wellesburn men.
How far a little good-nature from their elders will go with the right
sort of boys!

[11] #Over#: a certain number of balls pitched in succession
from one side.

The morning had dawned bright and warm, to the intense relief of many
an anxious youngster, up betimes to mark the signs of the weather. The
eleven went down in a body before breakfast for a plunge in the cold
bath in the corner of the close. The ground was in splendid order, and
soon after ten o'clock, before spectators had arrived, all was ready,
and two of the Lord's men took their places at the wicket; the School,
with the usual liberality of young hands, having put their adversaries
in first. Old Bailey stepped up to the wicket, and called play, and
the match has begun.

* * * * *

THE MARYLEBONE MATCH.

"Oh, well bowled! well bowled, Johnson!" cries the captain, catching
up the