it is enough to say it was the very reverse
of select.

At this time of day, however, the place was almost empty, and when,
after a good deal of chaff and persuasion, Wyndham was induced to take a
little turn round the place, he was surprised to find it so quiet and
unobjectionable. The boys had a short game at skittles and a short game
at bowls, and bought a few buns and an ice at the refreshment stall, and
then departed schoolwards.

They reached Willoughby in good time for call-over, no one except
Riddell being aware of their pleasant expedition. Still Wyndham, when
it was all _over_, did not feel altogether comfortable. Not that he
thought what he had done was very bad, or that he had sinned in
deceiving the masters and breaking the rules of the school. What
troubled him was that he knew Riddell would be vexed.

He repaired to the captain's study with his books as usual after evening
chapel and found him busy over his work.

But as soon as the boy entered, Riddell pushed the papers away rather
nervously.

"Well, Wyndham," said he, "I'm glad you've come."

Wyndham deposited his books and looked rather uncomfortable.

Riddell had rather hoped the boy would refer to the subject first, but
he did not. Riddell therefore said, "I was sorry to see you down in
Shellport this afternoon, Wyndham. You hadn't a permit, had you?"

"No," said Wyndham.

"It's hardly the thing, is it?" said the captain, quietly, after a
pause.

His voice, devoid of all anger or self-importance, made Wyndham still
more uncomfortable.

"I'm awfully sorry," said he. "I suppose I oughtn't to have gone. I
beg your pardon, Riddell."

"Oh!" said Riddell, "don't do that, please."

"You know," said Wyndham, "as those two took me, it didn't seem to be
much harm. We only went to see the steamer come in."

"The thing is," said Riddell, "it was against the rules."

"But Gilks and Silk are both monitors, aren't they?"

"They are," said the captain, with a touch of bitterness in his tone.

There was another pause, this time a long one. Neither boy seemed
inclined to return to the subject. Wyndham opened his books and made a
pretence of beginning his work, and Riddell fidgeted with the papers
before him. In the mind of the latter a hurried debate was going on.

"What had I better do? I might send him up to the doctor and perhaps
get him expelled. It might be the best thing for him too, for if those
two have got hold of him he's