to forget it and feel to the other side as
if it had not occurred.

Clapperton, of course, was cheered by his side; and yet his chief
admirers did not feel as proud of him as they would have liked. His
tone was patronising, and Fellsgarth could not stand being patronised,
even by its captain.

Just as the meeting was settling down for the important business of the
vote, a sensational incident took place.

The door swung open, and in strode Rollitt, with Fisher minor, panting
and pale, at his heels.

The new-comer, heedless of the astonishment caused by his appearance,
strode negligently up to the front where the other prefects were, while
his escort modestly slipped into the arms of his admiring friends.

For a moment the meeting looked on with amused bewilderment. Then it
suddenly dawned on everybody that this meant a new voter; and terrific
shouts of jubilation went up from the Classics; during which Fisher
minor had his back thumped almost in two.

For once in his life he was a hero! How he wished his young sisters
could have seen him then!

"Never mind," shouted Percy across the room, "he's bound to vote the
wrong side, or forget to vote at all."

"Order! Those who vote for Brinkman, hold up your hands."

It was far too serious to humbug now. Even D'Arcy was grave as he
surveyed the force of the enemy.

Two tellers had been appointed from either side, so that the votes were
counted four times, and the total was not allowed till all were agreed
on the result.

"Brinkman has one hundred and twenty-eight votes."

Loud and long were the cheers which greeted this announcement. The
knowing ones felt that it practically meant victory for the Moderns, for
it was one more vote than Fisher major had won with last time.

"Now, hands up for Fisher major."

Amid dead silence the Classic hands went up. Anxious eyes were cast in
Rollitt's direction. But he, strange to say, was all there, and held up
his hand with the rest.

Fisher major himself at the last moment kept his own hand down. He had
decided that, if Brinkman voted for himself, he would do the same.
Brinkman had voted. But, when it came to following his example, the
candidate's pride went on strike, and, whether it lost the election or
not, he declined to vote, Three of the tellers evidently agreed, but the
other had to count again before he made the figure right. Then the
written paper was handed up to Yorke, "Brinkman 128, Fisher major, 1