them about the club, and
undertake that you'll be steady the rest of the term if they'll let you
off. Do you think I'd be safe in saying so?"

"Rather! I'll promise, for one," cried Cusack.

"And I'll try," said Pilbury.

"So will we," said the others.

So it was settled. And when next day Riddell in triumph was able to
announce that the doctor and Mr Parrett had agreed to withdraw the
prohibition, in consideration of the captain's promise on their behalf,
great was the jubilation.

Greater still was Riddell's own satisfaction in feeling that he had at
least made a good start towards getting on the right side of the juniors
of his new house.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

"IS WILLOUGHBY DEGENERATE?"

As might be expected, the new captain's move in attempting to win over
the juniors of Welch's only served to increase the irritation of those
seniors who had hitherto reigned supreme in the house.

But Riddell had taken this into his calculation, and was therefore not
greatly astonished when immediately after the enthusiastic cricket
meeting just referred to, Silk followed him to his study in a by no
means amiable frame of mind.

Silk was not given to losing his temper, but on the present occasion he
was decidedly ruffled. And no wonder.

Any fellow would be ruffled who suddenly found himself deposed from his
authority in the manner in which Silk had been. Had he been one of the
most conscientious and painstaking of monitors, he might well have been
excused flaring up a little, and, indeed, would have shown a poor spirit
had he not done so.

But Silk, as the reader knows, was neither painstaking nor
conscientious. He did not care a rap about Welch's, still less about
Willoughby. As long as he could please himself and annoy his enemies,
he did not care what became of his house or the boys in it. It was only
when any one ventured to dispute his authority as head of the house that
he attached any value to his office. In fact, it was the story of the
Dog in the Manger carried out in school life--he would not be troubled
doing his duty to Welch's, and he would not if he could help it let any
one else do it for him.

Riddell, if truth must be told, was not at all sorry to have an early
opportunity of coming to an explanation with Silk.

Silk was one of the very few boys in Willoughby whom the captain
positively disliked, and that being so Riddell was troubled with none of
the half-apologetic nervousness whic