tuck us up to that business. He's always at the
bottom of the rows."

Parson laughed at this compliment.

"You mean I always _get_ into the rows," said he.

"Anyhow, I don't suppose the Skyrockets will show up again this term,"
said Telson.

"They certainly did not get much encouragement last time," said Riddell,
laughing. "You know I don't think you fellows do yourselves justice in
things like that. Fellows get to think the only thing you're good at is
a row."

"Fact is," said Parson, "Telson thought we'd been so frightfully snubbed
this term, we kids, that he said we ought to stick up for ourselves."

"I said that?" cried Telson. "Why, you know it was you said it!"

"By the way," said Parson, "wasn't there to be a special meeting of the
House to-day, for something or other?"

Telson looked rather uncomfortable, and then said, "Yes, I heard so. I
fancy it's about you, somehow," added he, addressing Riddell.

"About me?" asked the captain.

"Yes--to kick you out, or something," said Telson; "but Parson and I
mean to go and vote against it."

This was news to Riddell, and rather astonishing news too.

"To kick me out?" he asked. "What for?"

"Oh, you know," said Parson. "It's some bosh about that boat-race
affair. Some of the chaps think you are mixed up in it, but of course
it's all a cram. I've told them so more than once."

"It's all those Parrett's cads," said Telson, taking up the matter from
a schoolhouse point of view. "They're riled about the race, and about
the cricket-match, and everything else, and try to make out every one's
cheating."

"Well, some one must have been cheating," said Parson, a trifle warmly,
"when he cut my rudder-lines; and he's not likely to be one of _our_
fellows--much more likely to be a schoolhouse cad!"

"I'll fight you, you know, Parson!" put in Telson.

Riddell saw it was time to interfere. The conversation was drifting
into an unprofitable channel, from which it would scarcely work its way
out unassisted.

What he wanted was to find out whether there was any truth in the
explanation which the diary afforded of young Wyndham's conduct, and he
was a long way from that yet.

"Have some more cake, Telson," said he, by way of changing the subject.

Telson cheerfully accepted the invitation, while Parson, to spare his
host the trouble of pressing him to take an apple, helped himself.

Then when they were well started once more the captain said, "Who's