ience of the past
month.

It offended him not at all to hear this good result attributed generally
to Mr Parrett's instructions. He knew it was true. Mr Parrett
himself took care to disclaim any but a small amount of merit in the
matter.

"It's a wonder to me," said he to Fairbairn, in the hearing of a good
many seniors, who were wont to treat anything he had to say on athletic
matters as authoritative--"it's a wonder to me how Riddell, who is only
a moderate player himself, has turned out such a first-rate eleven.
He's about the best cricket coach we have had, and I have seen several
in my time. He has worked on their enthusiasm without stint, and next
best to that, he has not so much hammered into them what they ought to
do, as he has hammered out of them what they ought not to do. Three
fellows out of five never think of that."

"I'm sure they don't," said Fairbairn.

"See how steady they were all the innings, too!" continued Mr Parrett.
"Three coaches out of five wouldn't lay that down as the first rule of
cricket; but it is, especially with youngsters. Be steady first, and be
expert next. That's the right order, and Riddell has discovered it. I
would even back a steady eleven of moderate players against a rickety
eleven of good ones. In fact, a boy can't be a cricketer at all, or
anything else, unless he's steady. Now, you see, unless I am mistaken,
they will give quite as good an account of themselves at the wickets as
they did on the field."

And off strolled the honest Mr Parrett, bat in hand, to umpire, leaving
his hearers not a little impressed with the force of his views on the
first principles of cricket.

The master's prophecy was correct. The Welchers, notwithstanding the
fact that they had only twenty-five runs to get to equal their rivals'
first innings, played a steady and careful innings, in which they just
trebled the Parretts' score. The bowling against them was not strong
certainly, but they took no liberties with it. Indeed, both the captain
and Mr Parrett had so ruthlessly denounced and snubbed anything like
"fancy hitting," that their batting was inclined to err on the side of
the over-cautious, and more runs might doubtless have been made by a
little freer swing of the bats. However, the authorities were well
satisfied. Cusack carried his bat for eighteen, much to his own
gratification; and of his companions, Pilbury, Philpot, and Walker each
made double figures.

It requ