to get a `permit' when the time is up. I'd sooner not
go on than beg a `permit' of the captain."

"I wonder what he'll say to us to-morrow," said Telson. "He won't lick
us, eh?"

"He'd better not," said Parson. "You and I could lick him easy."

"I suppose he'll give us a howling impot. I say I'm getting fagged of
impots. I've had four this week."

"I've had three," sighed Telson. "Heigho! Willoughby's going to the
dogs. I've a good mind to cut the whole concern."

And so in rather desponding mood the two friends separated, and Telson
had an exciting chase across the quadrangle to avoid two monitors who
were prowling about there (as he concluded) for the express purpose of
"potting" him.

In this, however, he was mistaken. The two monitors were Gilks of the
schoolhouse and Silk of Welch's, who were taking the air this hot summer
evening, and thinking and talking of anything but Master Telson.

"I tell you," said Gilks, "I detest the fellow."

"You detest such a lot of fellows, Gilks," said Silk.

"I know I do," said Gilks, "but I hate Riddell more than the lot put
together."

"I should have thought he was rather an inoffensive duffer," suggested
Silk.

"That's just the worst of it. I'd give anything to catch him out in
anything that wasn't quite square, just to pay him out for his sickening
priggishness. Why," he exclaimed, with increasing anger in his tone,
"what do you think he did the other day, long before he was captain, or
had any pretence to give himself airs? He pulled me up before all the
fellows for--well, for using--"

"For swearing?" said Silk.

"Yes, if you like. For swearing. What business is it of his what I
say? I should like to know."

"Usen't Wyndham to be down on fellows for swearing too?" asked Silk.

"Yes, he was," said Gilks (who had good reason to know); "but he had a
right to do it. This cub hasn't."

"What did Riddell say?"

"What did he say? He said it didn't make what I said any better worth
hearing for sticking in an oath, and that-- Oh, I don't know what
precious impudence he didn't give me."

"Ha, ha," said Silk, "it wasn't bad. But I agree with you, the fellow
is a prig--"

"I know I mean to make a stand now," said Gilks. "He shan't stick up
his sanctimonious nose over us all, now he's captain, if I can help it."

"Why, what will you do?" asked Silk.

"Do! I'll punch his head the first time he dare lecture me."

"My dear fellow," said Silk,