sudden not to be satisfied, but to shrivel up, and
pall.[17] "Why should I go on? It's no use," he thought, and threw
himself at full length on the turf, and looked vaguely and listlessly
at all the well-known objects. There were a few of the town-boys
playing cricket, their wicket pitched on the best piece in the middle
of the big-side ground,--a sin about equal to sacrilege in the eyes of
a captain of the eleven. He was very nearly getting up to go and send
them off. "Pshaw! they won't remember me. They've more right there
than I," he muttered. And the thought that his sceptre had departed,
and his mark was wearing out, came home to him for the first time, and
bitterly enough. He was lying on the very spot where the fights came
off; where he himself had fought six years ago his first and last
battle. He conjured up the scene till he could almost hear the shouts
of the ring, and East's whisper in his ear; and looking across the
close to the Doctor's private door, half expected to see it open, and
the tall figure in cap and gown come striding under the elm-trees
toward him.

[16] #Gad-fly#: a gad-fly sent by Juno to torment Io, a
beautiful maiden whom Jupiter had transformed into a heifer.

[17] #Pall#: lose strength.

No, no! that sight could never be seen again. There was no flag flying
on the round tower;[18] the School-house windows were all shuttered
up; and when the flag went up again, and the shutters came down, it
would be to welcome a stranger. All that was left on earth of him whom
he had honored, was lying cold and still under the chapel floor. He
would go in and see the place once more, and then leave it once for
all. New men and new methods might do for other people; let those who
would, worship the rising star; he at least would be faithful to the
sun which had set. And so he got up, and walked to the chapel door and
unlocked it, fancying himself the only mourner in all the broad land,
and feeding on his own selfish sorrow.

[18] #Round tower#: the entrance to the head-master's
residence at Rugby is through this tower over which a flag
generally flies.

He passed through the vestibule[19] and then paused for a moment to
glance over the empty benches. His heart was still proud and high, and
he walked up to the seat which he had last occupied as a sixth-form
boy, and sat himself down there to collect his thoughts.

[19] #Vestibule#: entrance hall or anteroom.

And, truth