days. He had
opened another door: he was getting on with his task of finding things
out. Not only was the cruel suspense finished for ever, but he had
learned his own capacities: he could stick it like the others. And to
have the regard, the compassion, of one so great as Neave! He had
suffered, he still suffered, but who would not suffer to become a
martyr? He began to realise, as he pulled the bed-clothes over him,
that Spots had not been the minister of a fortune sheerly malignant.

IV

In the morning Martin was stiff and sore and began his toilet by
examining himself in a looking-glass: when he discovered the havoc that
had been wrought he felt very proud of himself and knew that this
appearance in the changing-room before football on Monday need cause
him no distress: those who wanted to see the damage would have
something to look at. The discomfort which he experienced during the
day was quite outweighed by his satisfaction at his achievement and
fortitude: that he was the first of the new boys to be swiped rendered
him in their eyes a distinctly important person. Even Caruth, who
always patronised Martin, began to climb down.

The Berneys had midday dinner with the house, and Martin succeeded in
catching Mrs Berney as she left the dining-hall.

"I'm very sorry I couldn't come last night," he said, blushing.

"So am I. You must come next Saturday. What kept you?"

"Oh--er--I had to see one of the prefects," he answered with hesitation.

Mrs Berney, knowing that 'after prayers' was the hour of justice, could
guess from the boy's manner what had occurred.

"That was a pity," she said kindly. And Martin knew that she knew. He
felt prouder and more heroic than ever. Then she added: "Come in after
prayers to-morrow night. There won't be anyone there."

"Oh, thank you very much," he said in ecstasy. He had become in a
moment the slave and worshipper of Mrs Berney. Afterwards Caruth asked
him the subject of his conversation with Mrs B., and he answered: "Oh,
nothing." On Monday night he went to the drawing-room and read the
odes with which the circle had dealt on Saturday. Mrs Berney gave him
cocoa and cake and was entirely charming. As he left her he even
thanked heaven for old Spots.

Leopard, on the other hand, was extremely angry with himself. He
realised on the following day that he had behaved like a brute: under
normal circumstances he would have ragged Martin and told him not t