:

"Well, we've boosted you out all right, Doe."

"Why, had I been chosen at one time, then?" asked Doe, seizing upon
this little sop to his pride.

"Of course, but look at the rain. It'll be a bowlers' wicket, and
the Skipper's done a daring thing. The school's never known it, but
Ray's been our difficulty, ever since Radley started booming him."

Doe brought his lips firmly together, and turned on me with a bright
smile.

"Radley's won this journey," he said, "but let him know I was the
first to congratulate you."

Sec.3

By ten o'clock on the Great Day a huge crowd had assembled,
including visitors, parents, old boys, and quite a number of
Pressmen. Pennybet arrived, invested with all the sleek majesty that
Sandhurst could give him: and, seeking out Doe and myself, he lent
us the dignity of his presence.

At about half-past-ten Radley came to the nets for a little
practice, and most of us walked up to see what sort of form he was
showing. I was feeling a little shy in my Second Eleven colours and
convinced that all the ladies were asking why my blazer was
different from the others. Pennybet quickly saw that I was sensitive
on this point, and, with his cruel humour, began emphasising the
little difficulty: "Ray, how comes it that your blazer's unlike the
others? It's very noticeable, isn't it?"

"Oh, shut up," urged I, blushing over face and neck and throat.

"All the ladies," continued my torturer, "will notice it and pity
you, saying 'Isn't he lovely?'"

I ignored him and devoted my attention to watching Radley, as he
took his place at the net, where Honion was bowling. It was clear
that he did not underestimate Honion's express deliveries, for he
rolled up his sleeve, displaying a massive forearm that alarmed us
seriously; re-arranged his rubber bat-handle; placed his bat firmly
in the block; and faced Honion.

The silence spoke of the importance of the moment; Lancaster, our
captain, was measuring himself with Radley. He took his long run and
bowled. Radley, with little apparent effort, drove the ball out of
the net-mouth to the far end of the field, and re-commenced
attending to his bat-handle.

"Oh, the full-blooded villain!" exclaimed Penny.

Someone handed Honion another ball, and he bowled. Radley hit it
with great force into the net on the off side. Our spirits sank.
Honion was good; he was great; but he was not great enough for
Radley.

The third ball Radley tapped straight to where