new boys obeyed, and the two "canvassers" were very
hard put to it for a while, and might have fared yet worse, had not
D'Arcy astutely hung out a flag of truce. "Look here," said he; "I
never knew such idiots as you Modern kids are. Here I've done my best
to be friends and invited you to a spread in my room; and now you won't
even let me go to the cupboard and get out the black currant jam and
cake."

"You're telling crams; that's not why you brought us here. You're a
howling--"

"Yes, really," said D'Arcy, in quite a friendly tone, "Cry _pax_ for one
minute, and if I don't hand out the things you may go; honour bright.
I've a good mind to kick you out without giving you anything."

The caged animals sullenly fell back and eyed the cupboard which D'Arcy
leisurely opened. A row of half a dozen pots on a top shelf, a segment
of a plum-cake, and something that looked very like honey in the comb,
met their greedy eyes.

"There you are," said D'Arcy. "What did I tell you! They belong to
Wally; he'll be here directly. You'll be all right--all except _you_,"
said he, singling out his principal assailant. "You don't know how to
behave, like these other kids. I shall advise Wally not to waste any of
his stuff on you."

"I didn't know it was a feast," said the youth, much softened. "I
thought you were only humbugging; really I did."

"I've a good mind to do what you think. You'd better mind your eye, I
can tell you--I wish Wally would come. There's five o'clock striking--
I'll go and look for him. Ashby, you see if he's in the library; you
kids, stay here, and lock the door, and don't let anybody in but Wally.
Do you hear? If you do, you'll get it pretty hot for being out of your
house. And look here, if Wally doesn't come by half-past, you can help
yourselves."

"Thanks awfully," said the party.

"Mind! honour bright you don't touch a thing till the clock strikes the
half. When you've done, stay here till one of us comes to fetch you,
and we'll see you safe out. Don't go without, as our chaps are awfully
down on Moderns this term, and you'll get flayed alive. If they've seen
you come in, they'll try to get at you, be sure; so lock yourselves in,
whatever you do, and don't make the room in too great a mess. Come
along, Ashby; let's look for Wally."

"Cut hard," said he, as soon as they stood outside, and had heard the
lock within duly turned. "We've only just time to get over; that's five
votes lo