"

Riddell looked at the speaker inquisitively for a moment, then broke out
into a laugh.

"What an ass I am! I forgot to tell you what I wanted them for. The
fact is, I asked two kids to breakfast this morning, and I just
remembered I had nothing but tea and toast to offer them; and it's too
early to get anything in. I'd be awfully obliged if you could help me
out with it."

Fairbairn's merriment broke out afresh as the truth revealed itself, and
it was some time before he could attend to business. He then offered
Riddell anything he could find in his cupboard, and the captain
thereupon gratefully availed himself of the offer to secure a pot of
red-currant jam, a small pot of potted meat, two or three apples, and a
considerable section of a plum cake. All these he promised to replace
without delay, and triumphantly hurried back with them in his pocket and
under his jacket, in time to deposit them on his table before the bell
began to ring for chapel. He also sent Cusack round to the school
larder to order three new laid eggs and some extra butter to be
delivered at once.

These grand preparations being duly made, he breathed again, and went
hopefully to chapel.

As it happened, he had been very near reckoning without his host, or I
should say his guests. For Parson and Telson had been some time before
they could make up their minds to accept the hurried invitation of the
previous evening.

"It's a row," Telson had said, as the captain disappeared.

"Of course it is. I'm not going," said Parson.

"Wonder what about?"

"Oh, that Skyrocket affair, I suppose."

"Do you think he'll give us impots if we don't go?"

"Don't know--most likely."

"Rum, his asking us to breakfast, though," said Telson.

"All a dodge, I expect," said Parson. "By the way, what sort of
breakfasts does he go in for?"

"Not bad when he likes," said Telson, with the authority of an old fag.

"Bacon?" asked Parson.

"Sometimes," said Telson.

"Jam?" inquired Parson.

"Generally," replied Telson.

There was a pause. Then Parson said, "Fancy we'd better turn up. It's
only civil, when he asked us."

"All serene," said Telson; "if it is a row, of course it will come off
in any case. And we may as well get our breakfast somewhere."

With which philosophical resolve the matter had been settled, and the
amiable pair parted to meet next morning after chapel.

Riddell spared himself the embarrassment of waiting to escort