The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's

THE

Fifth

at

H Scfoool Stor

BY

TALBOT BAINES REED

AUTHOR OF 'THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE GUINEA WATCH,' ETC, ETC.

WITH A PREFATORY NOTE

BY

G, A. HUTCHISON

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY

56 Paternoster Row; 65 St, Paul's Churchyard

and 164 Piccadilly

1890

Richard Clay a\:j Sons, Limited,

* LOS DOS ASt) UUS f ;AY.

PREFATORY NOTE.

The Fifth Form at St. Dominids is a story of
public-school life, and was written for the Boy's Oivn
Paper, in the Fourth Volume of whicji it appeared.
The numbers containing it are now either entirely out

of print or difficult to obtain ; and many and urgent
have been the requests — from boys themselves, as

well as from parents, head masters, and others — for
its re-issue as a book.

Of the story itself little need be said. It deals in

a bright and vigorous style with the kaleidoscopic,
throbbing life of a great public school — that world
in miniature which, in its daily opportunities and
temptations, ambitions and failures, has so often
afforded superabundant material for narratives power-
ful to enchain the attention and sway the emotions,
whether to smiles or tears. This will take its place.
amongst the best of them.

Though the story is one of school life, its interest
is by no means limited to school or college walls.

6 PREFATORY NOTE.

Boys of all sorts and conditions— ay, and their
parents too — will follow its fortunes with unflagging
zest from the first page to the last ; and it is difficult

to conceive of any reader, be he. young or old, who
would not be the better for its vivid portraiture and
bracing atmosphere. There is a breeziness about it
calculated to stir the better life in the most sluggish ;
and without pretence or affectation it rings out its
warnings, no less than its notes of cheer, clear and
rousing as trumpet blasts.

'Do right, and thou hast nought to fear,

Right hath a power that makes thee strong ;
The night is dark, but light is near,
The grief is short, the joy is long/

Without the most distant approach to that fatal
kind of sermonising which all but inevitably repels
those whom it is meant to benefit, the story force-
fully illustrates how rapidly they may sink who once
tamper, for seeming present advantage, with truth,
and how surely, sooner or later, a noble character
comes to vindication and honour ; and in all such
respects it is eminently true to life. These boys of
St. Dominic's, even the best of them, are very human
— neither angels nor monstrosities, but, for the most
part, ardent, impulsive, out-and-out, work-a-day lads ;

with the faults and failings of inexperience and im-
petuosity, no doubt, but also with that moral grit and

PREFATORY NOTE. 7

downright honesty of purpose that are still, we be-
lieve, the distinguishing mark of the true British
public-school boy. Hence one is impelled to take
from the outset a most genuine interest in them and
their affairs, and to feel quite as though one had
known many of them personally for years, and been
distinctly the better, too, for that knowledge. Such
boys stand at the antipodes alike of the unreal

r

abstractions of an effeminate sentimentalism — the
paragons who prate platitudes and die young — and of
the morbid specimens of youthful infamy only too
frequently paraded by the equally unreal sensational-
ism of to-day to meet the cravings of a vitiated
taste.

The Fifth Form at St. Dominies is the kind of
book we should place with confidence in the hands of
our own boys when leaving the home shelter, whether
for school or the sterner after-battle ; and we cannot
conceive of the parent who, having read it with care
and pleasure, as we have done, and knowing at the
same time anything of the stress and strain of daily
life, would not, with gratitude to the author, gladly
do the same. With all their faults, Oliver Greenfield
and Wraysford are splendid boys, of just the fibre
that the Church needs, and the world cannot afford
to do without ; and yet their school career proves by
no means a bed of roses. To drift with the current
is proverbially easy ; to seek to stem it manfully, and

8 PRE FA TOR Y NO TE.

steer by the stars, may, and often does, lay one open
to misapprehension or envy, and all the ills that
follow in their train ; yet —

* God is God, and right is right,
And truth the day must win ;
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin/

Our heroes had their full share of trouble — what
real hero has not ? — but they come out of the ordeal
purified and strengthened, with nobler aspirations
after duty, and tenderer thoughts of helpfulness
towards those needing, if far from seeking, their

succouring arm.

How all this comes about it is not for us to tell.
Readers will find that out for themselves, and thank
us for allowing them, unaided, to do so. The school
cricket match, the grand football struggle, the ever-
memorable prize-day — these are matters that no alien
pen may touch. Our prayer is that God may
abundantly bless the book to the building up in our
schools and families of strong Christian characters,
who in the after days shall do valiant service for
Christ and humanity.

G. A. HUTCHISON.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER l'AGE

I. The Notice Board n

u. A New Boy

21

in. A Morning with a Tadpole 29

iv. Fagging

3S

v. Shaking Down to Work 47

vi. Mr. Cripps the Younger 56

vii. The 'Dominican,' Number One 66

viii. A Quarrel and a Cricket Match 75

ix. A Rod in Pickle

S3

x. The Fourth Junior at Home 91

xi. In the Toils 100

xii. The 'Dominican* again 109

xiii. Company at the Cockchafer 119

xiv. Sixth v. School 132

xv. A Lower School Festival 143

xvi. Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles on Strike 154

xvii. The Doctor among the Guinea-pigs 164

xviii. A Holiday Adventure 173

xix. An Old Fire re-kindled 183

io CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

xx. A Crisis 191

xxr. The Fight that did not come off 202

xxii. The Nightingale Examination 210

xxin. A Turn of the Tide 222

xxiv. The Result of the Examination 231

xxv. Loman in Luck 241

xxvi. At Coventry 251

xxvii. The 'Dominican' on the Situation 260

xxvni. Mr. Cripps at St. Dominic's 271

xxix. A Queer Prize Day 282

xxx.„ A New Turn of the Tide 293

xxxr. Loman in Luck again 304

xxxii. The 'Dominican* comes round 314

xxxiii. A Startling Discovery 326

xxxiv. The Match against the County 335

xxxv. A Vocal, Instrumental, and Dramatic En-
tertainment in the Fourth Junior .... 346

xxxvi. Missing 35 8

xxxvii. Found ! 369

xxxviii. Good-bye to St. Dominic's 379

AV* />

rt ** *»

THE

FIFTH FORM AT SI DOMINIC'S

CHAPTER I.

THE NOTICE BOARD.

THE four o'clock bell was sounding up the staircase
and down the passages of St. Dominic's school. It
was a minute behind its time, and had old Roach, the
school janitor, guessed at half the abuse privately aimed at
his devoted head for this piece of negligence, he might

12 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOMINIC'S.

have pulled the rope with a good deal more vivacity than
he at present displayed.

At the signal there was a general shuffling of feet and
uproar of voices — twelve doors swung open almost simul-
taneously, and next moment five hundred boys poured out,
flooding the staircases and passages, shouting, scuffling, and
laughing, and throwing off by one easy effort the restraint
and gravity of the last six hours.

The usual rush and scramble ensued. Some boys, taking
off their coats and tucking up their sleeves as they ran,
made headlong for the playground. Some, with books
under their arms, scuttled off to their studies. The heroes
of the Sixth stalked majestically to their quarters. The
day boarders hurried away to catch the train at Maltby. A
few slunk sulkily to answer to their names in the detention-
room, and others, with the air of men to whom time is no
object and exertion no temptation, lounged about in the

corridors with hands in pockets, regarding listlessly the
general stampede of their fellows, and apparently not know-
ing exactly what to do with themselves.

Among these last happened to be Bullinger of the Fifth
and his particular friend Ricketts, who, neither of them
having any more tempting occupation, were comfortably
leaning up against the door of the Fourth junior class-
room, thereby making prisoners of some twenty or thirty
youngsters, whose infuriated yells and howls from within
appeared to afford the two gentlemen a certain languid
satisfaction.

' Open the door ! do you hear ? ' shrieked one little treble
voice.

' All right ! ' piped another. * I know who you are, you

cads. See if I don't tell Dr. Senior ! '

* Oh, please, I say, I shall lose my train ! ' whimpered a

third.

1 Wait till I get out ; see if I don't kick your shins ! '

howled a fourth.

THE NOTICE BOARD. 13

It was no use. In vain these bantams stormed and
raved, and entreated and blubbered. The handle would
not turn, and the door would not yield. Mr. Bullinger and
his friend vouchsafed no reply, either to their threats or
their supplications, and how long the blockade might have
lasted it is impossible to say, had not a fresh dissension
called the beleaguerers away. A cluster of boys at a corner
of the big corridor near the main entrance attracted their
curiosity, and suggested a possibility of even more enter-
tainment than the goading into fury of a parcel of little
boys, so, taking advantage of a moment when the besieged
had combined, shoulder to shoulder, to make one magnifi-
cent and desperate onslaught on to the obdurate door, they
quietly 'raised the siege/ and quitting their hold, left the
phalanx of small heroes to topple head over heels and one
over another on to the stone floor of the passage, while they
sauntered off arm-in-arm to the scene of the new excitement.

The object which had attracted the knot of boys whom
they now joined was the School Notice Board, on which,
from time to time, were posted notices of general and par-
ticular interest to the school. On this particular afternoon
(the first Friday of the Summer term) it was, as usual,
crowded with announcements, each interesting in its way.

The first was in the handwriting of Dr. Senior's secretary,
and ran as follows : —

'A Nightingale Scholarship, value ^50 a year for three
years, will fall vacant at Michaelmas. Boys under seventeen
are eligible. Particulars and subject of examination can be
had any evening next week in the secretary's room.'

'Fifty pounds a year for three years J ' exclaimed a small
boy, with a half whistle. ' I wouldn't mind getting that ! '

' Well, why don't you, you avaricious young Jew ? You're
under seventeen, I suppose?' retorted the amiable Mr.
Bullinger, thereby raising a laugh at the expense of this
little boy of eleven, who retired from the scene extinguished.

The next notice was in the classical handwriting of the

14 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM I NIC S.

secretary of the Sixth Form Literary Society, and ran as
follows : —

' This Society will meet on Tuesday. Subject for debate,
" That the present age is degenerate," moved by A. E.
Callander, opposed by T. Winter. Boys from the Senior
Fifth are invited as auditors/

This notice, even with the patronising postscript, would
have passed without comment, as Sixth Form notices
usually did, had not some audacious hand ventured to alter
a word and make the subject of debate, instead of * That
the present age is degenerate/ read 'That the present Sixth
is degenerate.' Who the perpetrator of this outrage might
be was a mystery, but the alteration was quite enough to
render the notice very amusing to many of the readers,
especially the Fifth Form boys, and very terrible to others,
especially the small boys, who looked nervous and guilty,
and did not dare by the slightest sign to join in the mirth
of their irreverent seniors. Most of the assembly agreed
that ' there would be a row about it,' with which assurance
they passed on to the next notice.

* Wanted, a Smart Fag. No Tadpoles or Guinea-pigs
need apply. Horace Wraysford, Fifth Form.'

' Bravo, Horatius I ' said Ricketts. ' A lucky young cub
it will be that he takes on/ added he, turning to a group
of the small boys near. ' He'll do your sums and look over
your exercises for you like one o'clock. Ugh ! though, I
suppose every man Jack of you is a Tadpole or a Pig ? '

Tadpoles and Guinea-pigs, I should say, were the names
given to two combinations or clubs in the clannish Junior
School, the mysteries of which were known only to their
members, but which were not regarded with favour by the
older boys.

As no one answered this charge, Ricketts indulged in a
few general threats, and a few not very complimentary com-
ments on the clubs in question, and then returned to the
notice board, which contained two more announcements.

THE NOTICE BOARD. 15

1 Cricket Notices. To-morrow will be a final big practice,
when the elevens for the " A to M versus N to Z " match
on the 25th will be chosen. "Sixth versus School " will be
played on the istproxo. The School Eleven will be selected
from among players in the two above matches/

* A private meeting of the Fifth will be held this afternoon
at 4.30 to discuss an important matter.'

*Hullo!' said Bullinger, looking up at the clock, 'it's
half-past now ' Come along, Rick/

And the two demagogues disappeared arm-in-arm down
the passage, followed by the admiring glances of the juniors,
who spent the next half-hour in wondering what could be
the important matter under consideration at the private
meeting of the Fifth. The universal conclusion was that it
had reference to the suppression of the Tadpoles and
Guinea-pigs — a proceeding the very suggestion of which
made those small animals tremble with mingled rage and
fear, and sent them off wriggling to their own quarters,
there to deliberate on the means of defence necessary to

protect themselves from the common enemy.

The meeting in the Fifth, however, was to consider a far
more important subject than the rebellious clubs of the
Junior School.

The reader will doubtless have inferred, from what has
already been said, that the young gentlemen of the Fifth
Form at St. Dominic's entertained, among other emotions,
a sentiment something like jealousy of their seniors and
superiors in theiSixth. Perhaps St. Dominic's is not the
only school in which such a feeling has existed ; but, at
any rate during the particular period to which I am refer-
ring, it was pfetty strong there. Not that the two Forms
were at war, or that there was any fear of actual hostilities.
It was not so bad as all that. But the Fifth were too near
the heroes of the top Form to consent to submit to their
authority. They would be Sixth men themselves soon, and
then of course they would expect the whole school to

16 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST, DOMINICS.

reverence them. But till that time they resented the idea
of bowing before these future comrades ; and not only that,
they took every opportunity of asserting their authority
among the juniors, and claiming the allegiance for them-
selves they refused to render to others. And they succeeded
in 'this very well, for they took pains to make themselves
popular in the school, and to appear as the champions
quite as much as the bullies of the small fry. The conse-
quence was that while Tadpoles and Guinea-pigs quaked
and blushed in the presence of the majestic Sixth, they
quaked and smirked in the presence of the Fifth, and took
their thrashings meekly, in the hope of getting a Latin
exercise looked over or a minor tyrant punished later on.

Just at the present time, too, the Fifth was made up of a
set of fellows well able to maintain the peculiar traditions
of their fellowship. They numbered one or two of the
cleverest boys (for their age) in St. Dominic's; and, more
important still in the estimation of many, they numbered
not a few of the best cricketers, boxers, football-players, and
runners in the school. With these advantages their popu-
larity as a body was very great — and it is only due to them
to say that they bore their honours magnanimously, and
distributed their kicks and favours with the strictest impar-
tiality.

Such was the company which assembled on this after-
noon in their own class-room, with closed doors, to deliberate
on ' private and important business.' About twenty boys

were present, and the reader must let me introduce a few of
them, before his curiosity as to the occasion of their
assembling themselves together can be satisfied.

That handsome, jovial-looking boy of sixteen who is
sitting there astride of a chair, in the middle of the floor,
biting the end of a quill pen, is the redoubtable Horace
Wraysford, the gentleman, it will be remembered, who is in
want of a fag. Wraysford is one of the best ' all-round
men* in the Fifth, or indeed in the school. He is certain

THE NOTICE BOARD. 17

to be in the School Eleven against the County, certain to
win the mile race and the ' hurdles ' at the Athletic Sports,
and is not at all unlikely to carry off the Nightingale
Scholarship next autumn, even though one of the Sixth is
in for it too. Indeed, it is said he would be quite certain
of this honour, were it not that his friend and rival Oliver
Greenfield, who is standing there against the wall, with his
head resting on a map of Greece, is also in for it. Green-
field does not strike one as nearly so brilliant a fellow as his
friend. He is quieter and more lazy, and more solemn.
Some say he has a tempe. . and others that he is selfish ; and
generally he is not the iiiost popular boy in St. Dominic's.
Wraysford, however, sticks to him through thick and thin,
and declares that, so far from being ill-tempered and selfish,
he is one of the best fellows in the school, and one of the
cleverest. And Mr. Wraysford is prepared to maintain his
allegation at the point of the — knuckle ! That hulking,

ugly youth is Braddy, the bully, the terror of the Guinea-
pigs, and the laughing-stock of his own class-mates. The
boy who is fastening a chalk duster on to the collar of
Braddy's coat is Tom Senior, the Doctor's eldest son, who,
one would have imagined, might have learned better manners.
Last, not least (for we need not re-introduce Messrs. Ricketts
or Bullinger, or go out of our way to present Simon, the
donkey of the Form, to the reader), is Master Anthony
Pembury, the boy now mounting up on-to a chair with the aid
of two friends. Anthony is lame, and one of the most
dreaded boys in St. Dominic's. His father is editor of the
Great Britain, and the son seems to have inherited his
talent for saying sharp things. Woe betide the Dominican
who raises Tony's dander ! He cannot box, he cannot
pursue ; but he can talk,, and he can ridicule, as his victims
all the school over know.

He it is who has, of his own sweet will, summoned
together the present meeting, and the business he is now
about to explain.

IS THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

'The fact is, you fellows/ he begins, 'I wanted to ask

your opinion about a little idea of my own. You know the
Sixth Form Magazine ? '

'Rather,' says Ricketts ;' awful rubbish too ! Papers a
mile long in it about Greek roots; and poetry about the
death of Seneca, and all that sort of thing.'

'That's just it,' continued Pembury; 'it's rubbish, and
unreadable \ and though they condescend to let us see it, I
don't suppose two fellows in the Form ever wade through it.'

'I know /don't, for one/ says Wraysford, laughing; 'I
did make a start at that ode on the birth of Senior junior in
the last, which began with —

"Hark, 'tis the wail of an infant that wakes the still echoes of

lofty Olympus,"

but I got no farther.'

' Yes/ says Tom Senior, ' Wren wrote that. I felt it my
duty to challenge him for insulting the family, you know.
But he said it was meant as a compliment, and that the
Doctor was greatly pleased with it.'

' Well/ resumed Pembury, laughing, ' they won't allow any
of us to contribute. I suggested it to the editor, and he
said (you know his stuck-up way), " They saw no reason
for opening their columns to any but Sixth Form fellows."
So what I propose is, that we get up a paper of our
own ! '

' Upon my word, it's a splendid idea ! ' exclaimed Wrays-
ford, jumping up in raptures. And every one else applauded

Pembury's proposition.

'We've as good a right, you know/ he continued, 'as they
have, and ought to be able to turn out quite as respectable
a paper.'

'Rather/ says Ricketts, 'if you'll only get the fellows to

write.'

'Oh, I'll manage that/ said Anthony.

'Of course you'll have to be editor, Tony/ says Bulhnger.

THE NOTICE BOARD. 19

'If you like,' says the bashful Tony, who had no notion
of not being editor.

'Well, I call that a splendid idea/ says Braddy. 'Won't
they be in a fury? (Look here, Senior, I wish you wouldn't
stick your pins into my neck, do you hear ?) '

' What shall we call it ? ' some one asks.

' Ah, yes,' says Pembury, ' we ought to give it a good
name/

' Call it the Senior Wrangler] suggested Ricketts.

'Sounds too like a family concern,' cried Tom Senior.

' Suppose we call it the Fifth Form War Whoop] pro-
posed Wraysford, amid much laughter.

' Or the Anti-Sixth] says Braddy, who always professes
an implacable enmity towards the Sixth when none of them
are near to hear him.

1 Not at all/ says Greenfield, speaking now for the first
time. ' What's the use of making fools of ourselves ? Call it
the Dominican, and let it be a paper for the whole school.'

'Greenfield is right/ adds Pembury. 'If we can make it
a regular school paper it will be a far better slap at the
Sixth than if we did nothing but pitch into them. Look
here, you fellows, leave it to me to get out the first number.
We'll astonish the lives out of them — you see ! '

Every one is far too confident of Tony's capacity to raise
an objection to this proposal ; and after a good deal
talk, in which the idea of the Dominican excites quite an
enthusiasm among these amiable young gentlemen, the
meeting breaks up*

That evening, as the fellows passed down the corridor to
prayers, a new notice appeared on the board :

'The first number of the Dominican will appear on the
24th inst.'

' What does it mean ? ' asked Raleigh of the Sixth, the
school captain, of his companion, as they stopped to
examine this mysterious announcement ; ' there's no name
to it.'

20 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC 'S.

* I suppose it's another prank of the Fifth. By the way,
do you see how one of them has altered this debating society
notice ? '

' Upon my word,' said Raleigh reading it, and smiling in
spite of himself, 'they are getting far too impudent. I
must send a monitor to complain of this.'

And so the two grandees walked on.

Later in the evening Greenfield and Wraysford sat
together in the study of the former.

' Well, I see the Nightingale is vacant at last. Of course
you are going in, old man?' said Wraysford.

' Yes, I suppose so ; and you ? ' asked the other.

' Oh, yes. I'll have a shot, and do my best.'

( I don't mean to let you have it, though,' said Greenfield,
' for the money would be valuable to me if I ever go up to
Oxford.'

'Just the reason /want to get it, ? said Wraysford, laugh-
ing. ' By the way, when is your young brother coming ? '

' This week, I expect.'

' I wonder if he'll fag for me ? ' asked Wraysford, mindful
of his destitute condition.

Greenfield laughed. ' You'd better ask the captain about
that. I can't answer for him. But I must be off now.
Good night.'

And an hour after that St. Dominic's was as still and
silent as, during the day, it had been bustling and noisy.

(21 )

CHAPTER II.

A NEW BOY.

'/^OOD-BYE, my boy; God bless you! and don't
V_JT forget to tell the housekeeper about airing your
flannel vests.'

With this final benediction ringing in his ears, the train
which was to carry Master Stephen Greenfield from London
to St. Dominic's steamed slowly out of the station, leaving
his widowed mother to return lonely and sorrowful to the
home from which, before this day, her youngest son had
never wandered far without her.

Stephen, if the truth must be told, was hardly as affected
by the parting as his poor mother. Not that he was not
sorry to leave home, or that he did not love her he left
behind ; but with all the world before him, he was at present
far too excited to think of anything rationally. Besides, that
last remark about the flannel vests had greatly disturbed him.
The carriage was full of people, who must have heard it, and
would be sure to set him down as no end of a milksop and
mollycoddle.

He blushed to the roots of his hair as he pulled up the
window and sat down in his corner, feeling quite certain
every one of his fellow-travellers must be secretly smiling at
his expense. He wished his mother would have whispered
that last sentence. It wasn't fair to him. In short, Stephen
felt a trifle aggrieved ; and, with a view to manifesting his
hardihood, and dispelling all false impressions caused by the
maternal injunction, he let down the window and put his

22 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

bare head out of it for about a quarter of an hour, until a
speck of dust settled in his eye and drove him back to his
seat.

It is decidedly awkward to get dust in your eye when you

want to figure as a hero, for the eyes will water, and must
be wiped, and that looks particularly like weeping. Stephen
refrained from using his handkerchief as long as he could ;
but it was no use ; he must wipe his eye in the presence of
his fellow-passengers. However, if he whistled a tune while
doing so, no one could suspect him of real tears ; so he
struck up, 'Glide along, my bonny boat/ as cheerfully as he
could, and mopped his smarting eye at the same time.
Alas ! the dust only got farther in, and the music, after half
an hour's heroic perseverance, flagged altogether. It was no
use trying to appear heroic any longer, so, what with pain
and a dawning sense of loneliness and home-sickness,
Stephen shed a few real tears into his handkerchief, an
indulgence which did him good in every way, for it not only
relieved his drooping spirits, but washed that wretched
piece of dust fairly out of its hiding-place.

This relief, with the aid of a bun and a bottle of ginger-
beer at one of the stations, set him, so to speak, on his feet
again, and he was able to occupy the rest of his journey
very pleasantly in drumming his heels on the floor, and
imagining to himself all the marvellous exploits which were
to mark his career at St. Dominic's. He was to be a prodigy
in his new school from the very first ; in a few terms he
was to be captain of the cricket club, and meanwhile was to
gain the favour of the Sixth by helping them regularly in
their lessons, and fighting any one against whom a special
champion should be requisite. He was, indeed, just being
invited to dinner with the Doctor, who was about to consult
him concerning some points of school management,
when the train suddenly pulled up at Maltby, and his
brother Oliver's head looked in at the window with a
1 JJuIlo ! here you are ! Tumble out ! J

A NEW BOY. 23

Oliver and Stephen were Mrs. Greenfield's only children.
Their father had died twelve years ago, when Stephen was
a baby, and the two boys had been left in charge of an
uncle, who had carefully watched over their education, and
persuaded his sister to allow her elder boy to go to a public
school. Mrs. Greenfield had consented, with many tremb-
lings, and Oliver had, four years ago, been sent to St.
Dominic's, where he was now one of the head boys in the
Fifth Form. Only a few weeks before the opening of this
story the boys' uncle had died, leaving in his will a pro-
vision for sending Stephen to the same school as his brother,
or any other his mother might select. The poor widow,
loth to give up her boy, yet fain to accept the offer held out,
chose to send Stephen to St. Dominic's too, and this was
the reason of that young gentleman's present appearance on
the stage at that centre of learning.

* I'll send up your traps by the carter ; we can walk,' said
Oliver, taking his young brother into charge.

Stephen was only too glad, as it gave him time to breathe
before plunging at once into the scene of his future exploits.
'Is it far?' he asked.

'Only a mile,' said Oliver; 'come on. Hullo, Rick,
where have you been to ? '

This was addressed to Ricketts, whom they met just
outside the station.

' Oh ! to Sherren's about my togs. I wanted them for
the match to-morrow, you know. I've told him if he doesn't
send them up in time we'll all get our things made in
London, so I guess he'll hurry himself for once. Oh, look
here ! did you get a paper with the result of the American
match ? Bother ! Here, you kid, what's your name, cut
back to the station and get a daily. Look sharp I Bring it
to me in my room. Come on, Greenfield.'

Master Stephen looked so astonished at this cool request
from a total stranger that both the elder boys laughed.

' This is my young brother, Rick, just come — '

24 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

i Oh, I beg your pardon, 7 said Mr. Ricketts, blushing,
1 I'll go—'

( No, I'll go/ said Stephen, darting off, and expending a
penny of his own to get this magnifico of the Fifth his
paper.

This little incident served to break the ice for the new
boy, who felt highly honoured when Ricketts said he was
1 much obliged to him.'

' By the way,' said Oliver, suddenly, ( I ought to get my
togs up too. Bother that Sherren ! I say, Rick, see my
young brother up to the school, will you ? while I cut back ;
he can wait in my study.'

Stephen felt very desolate to be left thus alone the
moment after his arrival, and it did not add to his pleasure
to observe that Ricketts by no means appeared to look upon
the task of seeing him to St. Dominic's as a privilege. They
walked on in silence for about half a mile, and then en-
countered several groups of boys strolling out along the
road. Ricketts stopped to talk to several of them, and was
very nearly going off with one of the party, when he sud-
denly remembered his charge. It was rather humiliating
this, for Stephen; and already his triumphal entry into
St. Dominic's was beginning to be shorn of some of its glory.
No one noticed him ; and the only one that paid him the
least attention appeared to look upon him as a nuisance.

' Here, Tony,' suddenly shouted Ricketts to Pembury,
who was jogging along on his crutches a little way ahead,
towards the school ; * do you mind showing this kid the
way up ? I have to go back with Wren. There's a good
fellow. 7

'Well, that's cool,' replied Master Pembury; ' I'm not a
kid-conductor ! Come on, youngster ; I suppose you
haven't got a name, have you ? '

( Yes, Stephen Greenfield.'

1 Oh, brother of our dear friend Oliver ; I hope you'll
turn out a better boy than him, he's a shocking character.'

A NEW BOY. 25

Stephen looked concerned. ( I'm sure he doesn't mean
to do what's wrong,' began he, apologetically.

' That's just it, my boy. If he doesn't mean to do it, why
on earth does he do it? I shall be sorry if he's expelled,
very sorry. But come on ; don't mind if I walk too fast, '
added he, hobbling along by Stephen's side.

Stephen did not know what to think. If Ricketts had
not addressed his companion as * Tony ' he would have
fancied he was one of the masters, he spoke with such an
air of condescension. Stephen felt very uncomfortable, too,
to hear what had been told him about Oliver. If he had
not been told, he could not have believed his brother was
anything but perfection.

' I'm lame, you see,' said Pembury, presently. ' You are
quite sure you see? Look at my left leg.'

' I see,' said Stephen, blushing ; ' I — I hope it doesn't
hurt'

' Only when I wash my face. But never mind that
Vulcan was lame too, but then he never washed. You
know who Vulcan was, of course ? '

' No, I don't think so,' faltered Stephen, beginning to feel
very uneasy and ignorant.

( Not know Vulcan ! My eye ! where have you been
brought up ? Then of course you don't know anything
about the Tenth Fiji War ? No ? I thought not. Dread-
ful ! We shall have to see what you do know. Come on.'

Stephen entered St. Dominic's thoroughly crestfallen, and
fully convinced he was the most ignorant boy that ever
entered a public school. The crowds of boys in the play-
ground frightened him, and even the little boys inspired him
with awe. They, at any rate, had heard of Vulcan, and
knew about the Tenth Fiji War !

' Here,' said Anthony, ' is your brother's study. Sit here
till he returns, and make the most of your time, for you'll
have to put your best foot foremost to-morrow in the
Doctor's exam.'

26 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

So saying, he left abruptly, and the poor lad found himself
alone, in about as miserable a frame of mind as a new boy
would wish to be in.

He looked about the study ; there were some shelves
with books on them. There was a little bed let into the
wall on one side ; there was an easy-chair, and what pro-
fessed to be a sofa ; and there was a pile of miscellanies,
consisting of bats and boots and collars and papers, heaped
up in the corner, which appeared to be the most abundantly
furnished portion of the little room. Stephen sat there,
very dismal, and wishing himself home again once more,
when the door suddenly opened and a small boy of his own
age appeared.

' Hullo ! What do you want ? ' demanded this hero.

( I'm waiting for my brother. 7

< Who's your brother ? '

' Oliver Greenfield/

1 Oh, all right ! you can get his tea as well as I can ;
you'll find all the things in the cupboard there. And look
here, tell him Bullinger wants to know if he can lend him
some jam — about half a pint, tell him.'

Poor Stephen ! even the small boys ordered him about,
and regarded him as nobody. He would fain have inquired
of this young gentleman something about Vulcan, and have
had the advantage of his experience in the preparation of his
brother's tea ; but the youth seemed pressed for time, and
vanished.

As well as he could, Stephen extricated the paraphernalia
of his brother's tea-table from the cupboard, and set it out
in order on the table, making the tea as well as profound
inexperience of the mystery and a kettle full of lukewarm
water would permit. Then he sat and waited.

Before Oliver arrived, four visitors broke in upon Stephen's
vigil. The first came ' to borrow ' some tea, and helped
himself coolly to two teaspoonfuls out of Oliver's canister.
Stephen stood by aghast and speechless.

A NEW BOY. 27

( Tell him I'll owe it him/ calmly remarked the young
gentleman, as he departed with his booty, whistling a

cheerful ditty.

Then a fag came in and took a spoon, and after him
another fag, with a mug, into which he poured half of the
contents of Oliver's milk-jug ; and finally a big fellow rushed
in in a desperate hurry and snatched up a chair and made
off with it.

Stephen wondered the roof of St. Dominic's did not fall
in upon these shameless marauders, and was just con-
templating putting the stores all back again into the cup-
board to prevent further piracy, when the welcome sound
of Oliver's voice in the passage put an end to further
suspense.

'Well, here you are,' said Oliver, entering with a friend.
' Wray, this is my young brother, just turned up.'

' How are you ? ' said Wraysford, in a voice which won
over Stephen at once ; ' I heard you were coming. Have
you — '

' Oh ! ' suddenly ejaculated Oliver, lifting up the lid of
his teapot. ' If that young wretch Paul hasn't been and
made my tea with coal-dust and cold water I I'd like to
scrag him ! And — upon my word — oh, this is too much !
— just look, Wray, how he's laid the table out ! Those
Guinea-pigs are beyond all patience. Where is the beggar ? '

' Oh ! ' exclaimed Stephen, starting up, very red in the
face, as his brother went to the door ; i it wasn't him. I
made the tea. The boy told me to, and I didn't know the
way. I had to guess.'

Oliver and Wraysford both burst out laughing.

'A pretty good guess, too, youngster,' said Wraysford.
' When you come and fag for me I'll give you a few lessons
to begin with.'

'Oh I by the way, Wray,' said Oliver, ( that's all knocked
on the head. Loman makes out the captain promised him
the first new boy that came. I'm awfully sorry.'

28 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

c Just like Loman's cheek. I believe he did it on purpose
to spite me or you. I say, Greenfield, I'd kick up a row
about it if I were you.'

* What's the use, if the captain says so ? ' answered Oliver.
( Besides, Loman's a monitor, bad luck to him ! '

i Loman's a fellow I don't take a great fancy to,' said
Wraysford. 1 1 wouldn't care for a young brother of mine
to fag to him.'

' You are prejudiced, old man,' said Oliver. c But I wish
all the same Stephen was to fag for you. It's a pity, but it
can't be helped.'

' I'll speak to the captain, anyhow,' growled Wraysford,
sitting down to his tea.

All this was not very pleasant for Stephen, who gathered
that he was destined to serve a not very desirable personage
n the capacity of fag, instead of, as he would have liked,
his brother's friend Wraysford.

-However, he did justice to the tea, bad as it was, and the
sardines Oliver had brought from Maltby. He was re-
lieved, too, to find that his brother was not greatly
exasperated on hearing of the various raids which had been
made on his provisions, or greatly disconcerted at Mr.
Bullinger's modest request for half a pint of jam.

Then, as the talk fell upon home, and cricket, and other
cheerful topics, the small boy gradually forgot his troubles,
even down to the Fiji War, and finished up his first evening
at St Dominic's in a good deal more cheerful frame of mind
than that in which he had begun it.

T

■Jr R

c%-

30 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

the cricket-field and see the practice. By the way, some of
the fellows may be in to bag my ink ; they always run short
on Friday ; but don't let them take it, for I shall want it
to-night. Ta, ta; give my love to the mater if you're
writing home. I'll be back for you after the twelve bell.'

And off he went, leaving Stephen to follow his own
sweet devices for three hours.

That young gentleman was at no loss how to occupy
part of the time. He must write home. So after much
searching he unearthed a crumpled sheet of note-paper
from one of the drawers, and set himself to his task. As
he wrote, and his thoughts flew back to the home and the
mother he had left only yesterday, his spirits fell, and the
home-sickness came over him worse than ever. What
would he not give to change places with this very letter,
and go back home !

Here, no one cared for him, every one seemed to despise
him. He wasn't used to those rough public schools, and
would never get on at St. Dominic's. Ah ! that wretched
Tenth Fiji War. What would become of him to-morrow
when the Doctor would be back ? There was no one to
help him. Even Oliver seemed determined to let him fight
his own battles.

Poor boy ! He sat back in his chair and let his mind
wander once more back to the snug little home he had left.
And, as he did so, his eyes unconsciously rilled with tears,
and he felt as if he would give anything to escape from
St. Dominic's.

At this moment the door opened and a small boy
entered.

He did not seem to expect to find any one in the room,
for he uttered a hurried ' Hullo ! ' as he caught sight of
Stephen.

Stephen quickly dashed away a tear and looked up.

' Where's Greenfield ? ' demanded the small boy.

1 He's in school,' replied Stephen.

A MORNING WITH A TADPOLE. 31

' Hullo ! what are you blubbering at ? ' cried the small
boy, growing very bold and patronising all of a sudden,
'eh?'

Stephen did not answer this home question.

c I suppose you are a new kid, just left your mammy ? '
observed the other, with the air of a man of forty ; ' what's
your name, young 'un ? '

' Stephen Greenfield.'

( Oh, my ! is it ? What form are you in ? '

' I don't know yet.'

( Haven't you been examined ? '

*No, not yet.'

* Oh, of course ; old Senior's away. Never mind, you'll
catch it to-morrow, blub-baby ! '

This last epithet was thrown in in such a very gratuitous
and offensive way, that Stephen did not exactly like it.

The small youth, however, finding himself in a bantering
mood, pursued his questions with increasing venom,

1 1 suppose they call you Steenie at home ? ' he observed,
with a sneer that was meant to be quite annihilating.

' No, they don't,' replied Stephen ; ' mother calls me

Steevie.'

1 Oh, Steevie, does she ? Well, Steevie, were you ever

licked over the knuckles with a ruler ? '

' No,' replied Stephen ; ' why ? '

* Because you will be — I know who'll do it, too, and
kick you on the shins, too, if you're cheeky ! '

Stephen was quite at a loss whether to receive this piece
of news in the light of information or a threat. He was
inclined to believe it the latter; and as he was a rash
youth, he somewhat tartly replied,

' You won't ! '

The small boy looked astounded — not that he ever
contemplated attempting the chastisement about which he
had talked ; but the idea of a new boy defying him, one of
the chosen leaders of the Tadpoles, who had been at St.

32 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST DOMINIC S.

Dominic's two years, was amazing. He glared at the rash
Stephen for half a minute, and then broke out,

' Won't I ? that's all ! you see, you pretty little blubber
boy ! Yow-ow-ow ! little sneak ! why don't you cut behind
your mammy's skirt, if you're afraid ? I would cry if I
were you. Where's his bottle ? Poor infant ! Yow-ow-
boo-boo ! '

This tornado, delivered with increasing vehemence and
offensiveness, quite overpowered Stephen, who stared at the
boy as if he had been a talking frog.

That youth evidently seemed to expect that his speech
would produce a far deeper impression than it did, for he
looked quite angry when Stephen made no reply.

' Wretched little sneak ! ' the amiable one continued ', i I
suppose he'll go peaching to his big brother. Never mind,
we'll pay you out, see if we don't ! Go and kiss your
mammy, and tell your big brother what they did to little
duckie Steevie, did they then ? they shouldn't ! Give him
a suck of his bottle ! oh, my ! ' and he finished up with a
most withering laugh. Then, suddenly remembering his
errand, he walked up to the table, and said,

' I want that inkpot ! '

Now was Stephen's time. He was just in the humour
for an argument with this young Philistine.

* What for ? '

' What's that to you ? give it up ! '

4 1 sha'n't give it up ; Oliver said it was not to be taken.'

* What do you say ? ' yelled the small boy, almost beside
himself with rage and astonishment

1 It's my brother's ink, and I'm not to give it up,' said
Stephen, shutting the top and keeping his hand on it.

It was enough ! The patriarch of the Tadpoles knew
his strong point was in words rather than action; but
this could not be endured. At whatever risk, the dignity of
his order must be maintained, and this insolent, mad new
boy must be — kicked.

A MORNING WITH A TADPOLE. 33

Til kick you on the legs if you don't give it up/ said the
Tadpole, in a suppressed white heat.

Stephen said nothing, but kept his hand on the pot, and
awaited what was to follow.

The hero stepped back a pace or two, to allow of a run
worthy of the coming kick ; and what might have happened
no one knows. At that moment the door opened, and
Pembury entered on his crutches.

At sight of this Fifth Form celebrity the Tadpole cringed
and cowered, and tried to sneak out of the study unobserved.
But Anthony was too quick for him. Gently hooking him
by the coat-collar with the end of a crutch, he brought him
back.

* What are you doing here ? '

* Nothing/

' Yes, he is/ shouted Stephen ; * he's been trying to take,
away Oliver's ink.'

* Silence, young gentleman, pray ! ' said Pembury, very
grandly. Then, turning to the Tadpole, he added,

' Oh, so you've been trying to bag some ink, have you ? '

' Well, I only wanted a little ; and this — ■'

1 Silence ! how much ink did you want ? '

'Only half a potful.'

' You shall have half a potful ! ' said Pembury. { Come

here .'

The Tadpole obeyed, and glared triumphantly at
Stephen.

'Now, Master Greenfield/ said Pembury, addressing
Stephen ; ' have the kindness to hand me the ink.'

Stephen hesitated ; he felt sure Anthony was a master ;
and yet Oliver's directions had been explicit.

( Do you hear ? ' thundered Anthony.

' Do you hear ? ' squeaked the Tadpole, delighted to have
the tables turned on his adversary.

'Oliver said I wasn't to let it go/ faltered Stephen.

' Do you hear me, sir ? ' again demanded Anthony.

34 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

' Do you hear ? give it up ! ' again squeaked the Tadpole.

Stephen sighed, and surrendered the inkpot. There was
an air of authority about Pembury which he dared not defy.

' Now, Master Tadpole, here's your ink ; half a pot you
said ? Put your hands behind you, and stir if you dare .' '
and Pembury looked so awful as he spoke that the wretched
boy was quite petrified.

The Fifth Form boy then solemnly emptied half the ink-
pot on to the top of the young gentleman's head, who
ventured neither by word nor gesture to protest.

1 Now you can go, sir ! ' and without another word he led
the small youth, down whose face trickled a dozen tiny
streams of black, making it look very like a gridiron, to the
door, and there gently but firmly handed him into the
passage. The wretched youth flew off to proclaim his
sorrows to his confederates, and vow vengeance all over
Tadpole and Guineapigland against his tormentor and the
new boy, who was the author of all his humiliation.

Pembury meanwhile returned to Stephen. That young
gentleman had felt his belief in Pembury's authority some-
what shaken by this unusual mode of punishment, but
the Fifth Form boy soon reassumed his ascendency. He
produced from his pocket a paper, and thus addressed
Stephen : ' Dr. Senior regrets that he should be absent at
such an important time in the history of St. Dominic's as
the day of your arrival, Master Greenfield, but he will be
back to-morrow. Meanwhile, you are to occupy yourself
with answering the questions on this paper, and take the
answers to the head master's study at ten to-morrow. Of
course you will not be so dishonourable as to show the
questions to any one, not even your brother, or attempt to
get the slightest help in answering them. Good-bye, my
boy. Don't trouble to stare at my left leg, if it is shorter
than the other. Good-bye.'

Poor Stephen felt so confused by the whole of this
oration, particularly the last sentence, which made him

A MORNING WITH A TADPOLE. 35

blush scarlet with shame, that for some time after the lame
boy had hobbled off he could not bring himself to look at
the paper. At last, however, he took it up.

This, then, was the awful examination paper which was
to determine his position at St. Dominic's, or else expose
his ignorance to the scorn of his masters. How he wished
he was on the other side of it, and that the ordeal was
over !

' Question i. Grammar. Parse the sentence, "Oh, ah ! "
and state the gender of the following substantives : " and,"
"look," "here." 7

Stephen scratched his head and rubbed his eyes. This
was not like anything he had learned at home. They must
learn out of quite different books at St. Dominic's.

* Question 2. History — '

* Hullo,' thought Stephen, 'they don't give many ques-
tions in grammar ; that's a good job.'

'Question 2. History. Whose daughter was Stephen
the Second, and why was he nicknamed the " Green"?'

Stephen laughed. He had found out a mistake in his
examiners. ' " Daughter," the paper said, should be " son "
of course. Funny for Dr. Senior to make such a slip/
thought he.

' Question 3. History and Geography. Who built Eng-
land? and state the latitude and longitude of St. Dominic's,
and the boundaries of Gusset Weir.'

' However am I to know ? ' murmured Stephen, in despair.
' I was never here before in my life. Oh, dear, I shall
never pass ! '

' Question 4. Compound Theology. Give a sketch of
the rise and history of the Dominicans from the time of
Herod the Conqueror to the death of Titmus.'

'Whew ! ' was Stephen's despairing ejaculation. ' I never
heard of Titmus ; it sounds like a Latin name.'

'Question 5. Pure Theology, Who was Mr. Finis?
Give a list of the works bearing his signature, with a short

36 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

abstract of their contents. What is he particularly cele-
brated for ? '

' Mr. Finis ? ' groaned Stephen. ' How can they expect
a boy like me to know who he was? And yet I seem to
know the name. Oh dear me ! '

' Question 6, and last but one ' (' That's a comfort/ sighed
Stephen). ' Mathematics. What is a minus ? Describe
its shape, and say how many are left when the whole is
divided by seven. Reduce your answer to vulgar decimals.'

' I'm certain I can never do that. Minus? Minus? I
know the name, too. But here's the last/

' Question 7. Miscellaneous. Give a brief history of
your own life from the earliest times, being particular to
state your vicious deeds in chronological order/

Stephen sighed a sigh of relief. ' I can answer that, after
a fashion/ he said ; ' but I can't even then be sure of all
the dates. As for the others — ' and he dashed the paper
down on the table with an air of bewildered despair.

'What am I to do? They are all too hard for me. Oh !
I wish I might just show them to Oliver. If I was only at
home, mother could help me. Oh, dear ! I wish I had
never come here ! '

And he gave himself over to the extreme of misery, and
sat staring at the wall until the twelve bell rang, and Oliver
and Wraysford broke in on his solitude.

' Hullo, young 'un ; in the dumps ? Never mind ; you'll
be used to it in a day or two, won't he, Wray ? '

* Of course you will/ said Wraysford, cheerily ; ( it's hard
lines at first. Keep your pecker up, young 'un.'

The young 'un, despite this friendly advice, felt very far
from keeping up his pecker. But he did his best, and
worked his face into a melancholy sort of a smile.

' Fish us my spike shoes out of that cupboard, Stee, there's
a good fellow/ said Oliver, 'and come along to the cricket-
field. There's a big practice on this afternoon.'

Stephen hesitated.

A MORNING WITH A TADPOLE. 37

' I've got to do my examination before ten to-morrow.
Some one brought me up the paper and said so. Perhaps
Fd better stop here and do it? '

' I thought you weren't to be had up till the Doctor came
back. Who brought you the paper? I suppose it was
Jellicot, the second master ? '

' I suppose so/ said Stephen, who had never heard of
Mr. Jellicot in his life before.

* Let's have a look at it/ said the elder brother.

' I promised I wouldn't. '

' Oh, all serene ; I only wanted to see the questions. It's
a new dodge giving papers, isn't it, Wray ? We were ex-
amined viva voce in the Doctor's study. Well, come on,

old man, or we shall be late. You'll have lots of time for
that this evening.'

And off they went, the wretched Stephen wrestling men-
tally with his problems all the while.

Of course, profound reader, you have made the brilliant
discovery by this time that Master Stephen Greenfield was
a very green boy. So were you and I at his age ; and so,
after all, we are now. For the more we think we know,
the greener we shall find we are ; that's a fact !

"D

NG

E is a queer elasticity about boys which no one,
least of all themselves, can account for. A quarter

c

g

i

.i

c

1,

Q

rsotten all about his examination, and could think

to

£ W

say.

youngsters 1

new boy, and was surprised to find himself holding familiar

Well bowled, sir ! J :
from Eieketts took Bullinger's middle stump clean out

t.

i

FA GGING. 39

turning round ; ' if Ricketts bowls like that to-day week,
the others will be nowhere.'

1 Oh/ said Stephen, to whom this remark seemed to be
addressed.

Master Paul looked sharply round.

' Hullo, young 'un, is that you ? Jolly good play, isn't
it ? Who are you for, A or Z ? '

' What do you mean ? '

' Mean ? Do you back the A's or the Z's ? that's what I
mean. Oh, I suppose you don't twig, though. A to M,
you know, against N to Z.'

1 Oh,' said Stephen, * I back the A to M's, of course ; my
brother is in that half.'

' So he is — isn't that him going in now ? Yes ; you see
if Ricketts doesn't get him out in the first over ! '

Stephen watched most eagerly and anxiously. They
were not playing a regular game, only standing up to be

bowled at in front of the nets, or fielding at fixed places ;
but each ball, and each hit, and each piece of fielding, was
watched and applauded as if a victory depended on it, for
out of those playing to-day the two elevens for the Alphabet
match were to be chosen ; and out of those two elevens, as
every one knew, the School eleven, which would play the
County in June, was to be selected. Oliver, despite Paul's
prophecy, stood out several overs of Rickett's, and Loman's,
and the school captain's, one after the other, cutting some
of their balls very hard, and keeping a very steady guard
over his wicket. At last a ball of Loman's got past him
and snicked off his bails.

Stephen looked inquiringly round at Paul, and then at
the small knot of Sixth fellows who were making notes of
each candidate's play.

' He's all right/ said Paul ; * I guess Raleigh ' (that was
the school captain) ' didn't fancy his balls being licked
about like that. Never mind — there goes Braddy in.'

And so the practice went on, each candidate for the

40 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

honour of a place in the eleven submitting to the ordeal,
and being applauded or despised according as he acquitted
himself. Wraysford, of course, came out of the trial well,
as he always did.

'I declare, the Fifth could lick the Sixth this year,
Tom,' said Pembury to Tom Senior, as they sat together
looking on.

' I'm sure they could ; I hope we challenge them.'

Just then a Sixth Form fellow strolled up to where the
speakers were standing.

' I say, Loman,' said Pembury, ' we were just saying our

men could lick yours all to fits. Don't you think so

yourself?'

' Can't say I do ; but you are such a wonderful lot of

heroes, you Fifth, that there's no saying what you couldn't

do if you tried/ replied Loman, with a sneer.

' But you take such precious good care we shall not try,
that's just it,' said Pembury, winking at his companion.
* Never mind, we'll astonish you some day,' growled the
editor of the Dominican as he hobbled away.

Loman strolled up to where the small boys were sitting.

' Which of you is young Greenfield ? ' he said.

* I am,' said Stephen, promptly.

'Run with this letter to the post, then, and bring me
back some stamps while you are there, and get tea ready
for two in my study by half-past six — do you hear? '

And off he went, leaving Stephen gaping at the letter in
his hand, and quite bewildered as to the orders about tea.

Master Paul enjoyed his perplexity.

' I suppose you thought you were going to get off fagging.
I say, you'll "have to take that letter sharp, or you'll be
late.'

' Where's the post-office ? '

' About a mile down Maltby Road. Look here, as you
are going there, get me a pound of raisins, will you? —
there's a good chap. We'll square up to-night.'

FAGGING. 41

Stephen got up and started on his errands in great
disgust.

He didn't see why he was to be ordered about and sent
jobs for the other boys, just at a time, too, when he was
enjoying himself. However, it couldn't be helped.

Three or four fellows stopped him as he walked with the
letter in his hand to the gates.

1 Oh, are you going to the post ? Look here, young 'un,
just call in at Splicer's about my bat, will you? thanks
awfully ! ' said one.

Another wanted him to buy a sixpenny novel at the
library ; a third commissioned him to invest threepence in
' mixed sweets, chiefly peppermint ' ; and a fourth to call at
Grounding, the naturalist's, with a dead white mouse which
the owner wanted stuffed.

After this, Stephen — already becoming a little more
knowing — stuffed the letter in his pocket, and took care,
if ever he passed any one, not to look as if he was going
anywhere, for fear of being entrusted with a further
mission.

He discharged all his errands to the best of his ability,
including that relating to the dead mouse, which he had
great difficulty in rescuing from the clutches of a hungry
dog on the way down, and then returned with Paul's raisins
in one pocket, the mixed sweets in another, the book in
another, and the other boy's bat over his shoulder.

Paul was awaiting him at the gate of St. Dominic's.

1 Got them ? ' he shouted out, when Stephen was still
twenty yards off.

Stephen nodded.

' How much ? ' inquired Paul.

. ( Eighteenpence.'

' You duffer ! I didn't mean them — -pudding raisins I
meant, about sixpence. I say, you'd better take them
back, hadn't you ? '

This was gratitude i ' I can't now,' said Stephen.

42 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' I've got to get somebody's tea ready — I say, where's his
study ? '

' Whose ? Loman's ? Oh, it's about the eighth on the
right in the third passage ; next to the one with the kicks
on it. What a young muff you are to get this kind of
raisin ! I say, you'd have plenty of time to change them.'

1 1 really wouldn't,' said Stephen, hurrying off, and perhaps
guessing that before he met Mr. Paul again the raisins would
be past changing.

The boy to whom belonged the mixed sweets was no
more grateful than Paul had been.

( You've chosen the very ones I hate/ he said, surveying
the selection with a look of disgust.

' You said peppermint,' said Stephen.

' But I didn't say green, beastly things ! ' grumbled the
other. ' Here, you can have one of them, it's sure to make
you sick ! '

Stephen said ' Thank you,' and went off to deliver up the
bat.

' What a time you've been ! ' was all the thanks he got
in that quarter. ' Why couldn't you come straight back
with it?'

This was gratifying. Stephen was learning at least one
lesson that afternoon — that a fag, if he ever expects to be
thanked for anything he does, is greatly mistaken. He
went off in a highly injured frame of mind to Loman's
study.

Master Paul's directions might have been more explicit —
'The eighth door on the right; next to the one with the
kicks.' Now, as it happened, the door with the kicks on it
was itself the eighth door on the right, with a study on
either side of it, and which of these two was Loman's
Stephen could not by the unaided light of nature determine.
He peeped into No. 7 ; it was empty.

' Perhaps he's cut his name on the door,' thought
Stephen.

FAGGING. 43

He might have done so, but as there were about fifty dif-
ferent letters cut on the door, he was not much wiser for that.

'I'd better look and see if his name is on his collars,'
Stephen next reflected, remembering with what care his
mother had marked his own linen.

He opened a drawer ; it was full of jam-pots. At that
moment the door opened behind him, and the next thing
Stephen was conscious of was that he was half-stunned with
a terrific box on the ears.

4 Take that, you young thief!' said the indignant owner
of the study ; * I'll teach you to stick your finger in my jam.
What do you mean by it ? ' and a cuff served as a comma
between each sentence.

4 1 really didn't— I only wanted — I was looking for — '

'That'll do ; don't tell lies as well as steal ; get away.'

1 1 never stole anything ! ' began Stephen, whose confusion
was being rapidly followed by indignation at this unjust
suspicion.

'That'll do. A little boy like you shouldn't practise
cheating, Off you go ! If I catch you again I'll take you
to the Doctor.'

In vain Stephen, now utterly indignant, and burning with
a sense of injustice, protested his innocence. He could not
get a hearing, and presently found himself out in the passage,
the most miserable boy in all St. Dominic's.

He wandered disconsolately along the corridor, trying
hard to keep down his tears, and determined to beg and
beseech his brother to let him return home that very evening,
when Loman and a friend confronted him.

' Hullo, I say, is tea ready ? ' demanded the former.

' No/ said Stephen, half choking.

* Why ever not, when I told you ? '

Stephen looked at him, and tried to speak, and then
finally burst into tears.

' Here's an oddity for you ! Why, what's the row,
youngster ? '

44 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

( Nothing,' stammered Stephen.

'That's a queer thing to howl at If you were weeping
because you hadn't made my tea, I could understand it.
Come along, I'll show you how to do it this time, young
greenhorn.'.

Stephen accompanied him mechanically, and was ushered
into the study on the other side of the door with the kicks
to that in which he had been so grievously wronged.

He watched Loman prepare the meal, and was then
allowed to depart, with orders to be in the way, in case

he should be wanted.

Poor Stephen ! Things were going from bad to worse,

and life was already a burden to him. And besides — that
examination paper ! It now suddenly dawned upon him.
Here it was nearly seven o'clock, and by ten to-morrow he
was to deliver it up to Dr. Senior !

How ever was he to get through it ? He darted of! to
Oliver's study. It was empty, and he sat down, and
drawing out the paper, made a dash at the first question.

The answer wouldn't come ! Parse l Oh, ah ! ' ' Oh ' is
an interjection agreeing with ' ah.' ( Ah ' is an interjection
agreeing with ' oh.' It wouldn't do. He must try again.

' Why,' cried the voice of Wraysford, half an hour later,
'here's a picture of industry for you, Greenfield. That
young brother of yours is beginning well I '

Stephen hurriedly caught up his papers for fear any one
should catch a glimpse of the hopeless attempts at answers
which he had written. He was greatly tempted to ask
Oliver about ' Mr. Finis,' only he had promised not to get
any help.

' Let's have a look at the questions,' again demanded
Oliver, but at that moment Loman's voice sounded down
the passage.

' Greenfield junior, where are you ? '

Stephen, quite glad of this excuse for again refusing to
show that wretched paper, jumped up, and saying,

FAGGING. 45

'There's Loman wants his tea cleared away/ vanished
out of the room.

Poor Stephen ! There was little chance of another turn
at his paper that night. By the time Loman's wants had
been attended to, and his directions for future fagging
delivered, the prayer-bell rang, and for the half-hour follow-
ing prayers the new boy was hauled away by Master Paul
into the land of the Guinea-pigs, there to make the ac-
quaintance of some of his future class-fellows, and to take
part in a monster indignation meeting against the monitors
for forbidding single wicket cricket in the passage, with a
door for the wicket, an old inkpot for the ball, and a ruler
for the bat. Stephen quite boiled with rage to hear of this
act of tyranny, and vowed vengeance along with all the rest
twenty times over, and almost became reconciled with his
enemy of the morning (but not quite) in the sympathy of
emotion which this demonstration evoked.

Then, just as the memory of that awful paper rushed
back into his mind, and he was meditating sneaking off to
his brother's study, the first bed-bell sounded.

'Come on/ said Paul, 'or they'll bag our blankets.'

Stephen, wondering, and shivering at the bare idea, raced
along the passage and up the staircase with his youthful ally
to the dormitory. There they found they had been antici-
pated by the blanket-snatchers ; and as they entered, one of
these, the hero of the inky head, was deliberately abstracting
one of those articles of comfort from Stephen's own bed.

'There's young Bramble got your blanket, Greenfield,'
cried Paul, ' pitch into him ! '

Stephen, nothing loth, marched up to Master Bramble
and demanded his blanket. A general engagement ensued,
some of the inhabitants of the dormitory siding with
Stephen, and some with Bramble, until it seemed as if the
coveted blanket would have parted in twain. In the midst
of the confusion a sentry at the door suddenly put his head
in and shouted ' Nix ! ' The signal had a magical effect on

46 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

all but the uninitiated Stephen, who, profiting by his adver-
saries' surprise, made one desperate tug at his blanket, which
he triumphantly rescued.

'Look sharp/ said Paul, 'here comes Rastle/
Mr. Rastle was the small boys' tutor and governor.
Stephen took the hint, and was very soon curled up, with
his brave blanket round him, in bed, where, despite the
despairing thought of his paper, the cruel injustice of the
owner of the jam-pots, and the general hardness of his lot,
he could not help feeling he was a good deal more at home
at St. Dominic's than he had ever yet found himself.

Of one thing he was determined. He would be up at
six next morning, and make one last desperate dash at his
examination paper.

/

CHAPTER V.

SHAKING DOWN TO WORK.

ASTER GREENFIELD, junior, is to go to the head
master's study at half- past nine/ called out Mr.
Roach, the school porter, putting his head into the dormitory,
at seven o'clock next morning.

Stephen had been up an hour, making fearful and won-
derful shots of answers to his awful questions, half of which
he had already ticked oft' as done for better or worse. ' If
I write something down to each,' thought he to himself, 'I

48 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC 'S.

might happen to get one thing right; it'll be better than
putting down no answer at all.'

' Half-past nine ! ' said he to Paul, on hearing this
announcement; l ten was the time I was told.'
' Who told you ? '

' The gentleman who gave me my paper.'
'What paper? you don't have papers. It's viva voce. 7
' I've got a paper, anyhow,' said Stephen, *and a precious
hard one, too, and I've only half done it.'

' Well, you'll have to go at half-past nine, or you'll catch
it,' said Paul. ' I say, there's Loman calling you.'

Stephen, who, since the indignation meeting last night,
had felt himself grow very rebellious against the monitors,
did not choose to hear the call in question, and tried his
hardest to make another shot at his paper. But he could
not keep deaf when Loman himself opened the door, and
pulling his ear inquired what he meant by not coming when
he was told? The new boy then had to submit, and sulkily
followed his lord to his study, there to toast some bread at
a smoky fire, and look for about half an hour for a stud that
Loman said had rolled under the chest of drawers, but
which really had fallen into one of that gentleman's boots.

By the time these labours were over, and Stephen had
secured a mouthful of breakfast in his brother's study, it
was time to go down to prayers ; and after prayers he had
but just time to wonder what excuse he should make for
only answering half his questions, when the clock pointed
to the half-hour, and he had to scuttle off as hard as he
could to the Doctor's study.

Dr. Senior was a tall, bald man, with small, sharp eyes,
and with a face as solemn as an owl's. He looked up as
Stephen entered.

1 Come in, my man. Let me see ; Greenfield ? Oh, yes.
You got here on Tuesday. How old are you ? '

' Nearly eleven, sir,' said Stephen, with the paper burning
in his pocket.

SHAKING DOWN TO WORK. 49

'Just so ; ancH dare say your brother has shown you over
the school, and helped to make you feel at home. Now
suppose we just run through what you have learned at
home.'

Now was the time. With a sigh as deep as the pocket
from which he pulled it, Stephen produced that miserable
paper.

' I'm very sorry, sir,' he began, ' I've not had time — -'

' Tut, tut ! ' said the Doctor ; ' put that away, and let us
get on.'

Stephen stared. ' It's the paper you gave me ! ' he said.

The Doctor frowned. * I hope you are not a silly boy/
he said, rather crossly.

'I'm afraid they are all wrong,' said Stephen; 'the
questions were — were — rather hard.'

' What questions ? ' exclaimed the Doctor, a trifle im-

4

patient, and a trifle puzzled.

'These you sent me,' said Stephen, humbly handing in
the paper.

'Hum! some mistake; let's see, perhaps Jellicot — ah!'
and he put on his glasses and unfolded the paper.

'Question i. Grammar!' and then a cloud of amaze-
ment fell over the Doctor's face. He looked sharply out
from under his spectacles at Stephen, who stood anxiously
and nervously before him. Then he glanced again at the
paper, and his mouth twitched now and then as he read the
string of questions, and the boy's desperate attempts to
answer them.

' Humph ! ' he said, when the operation was over, * I'm
afraid, Greenfield, you are not a very clever boy — '

'I know I'm not, sir,' said Stephen, quite relieved
that the Doctor did not at once order him to quit St.
Dominic's.

' Or you would have seen that this paper was a practical

joke.'
Then it burst all of a sudden on Stephen. And all this

So THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

about ' Mr. Finis/ ' Oh, ah/ and the rest of it had been a
cruel hoax, and no more !

i Come, now, let us waste no more time. I'm not
surprised/ said the Doctor, suppressing a smile by a very
hard twitch ; * I'm not surprised you found these questions
hard. How far have you got in arithmetic ? '

And then the Doctor launched Stephen into a viva voce
examination, in which that young prodigy of learning ac-
quitted himself far more favourably than could have been
imagined, and at the end of which he heard that he would
be placed in the fourth junior class, where it would be his
duty to strain every nerve to advance, and make the best
use of his time at St. Dominic's. Then the Doctor rang
his bell.

' Tell Mr. Rastle kindly to step here/ said he to the
porter.

Mr. Rastle appeared, and to his charge, after solemnly
shaking hands and promising to be a paragon of industry and
good conduct, Stephen was consigned by the head master.

' By the way/ said the Doctor, as Stephen was leaving,
'will you tell the boy who gave you this paper I wish to see
him ? '

Stephen, who had been too much elated by the result of
the real examination to recollect for the moment the trickery
of the sham one, now blushed very red as he remembered
what a goose he had been, and undertook to obey the
Doctor's order. And this it was very easy to do. For as
he opened the study door he saw Pembury just outside,
leaning against the wall with his eyes on the clock as it
struck ten.

As he caught sight of Stephen emerging from the head
master's study, his countenance fell, and he said eagerly and
half-anxiously, * Didn't I tell you ten o'clock, Greenfield ? '

' Yes, but the Doctor said half-past nine. And you are a
cad to make a fool of me/ added Stephen, rising with
indignation, 'and— and — and-^-'-^and here he choked.

SHAKING DOWN TO WORK. 51

' Calm yourself, my young friend/ said Pembury. ' It's
suck a hard thing to make a fool of you that, you know,
and — -and — and — ! '

' I shall not speak to you,' stammered Stephen.

' Oh, don't apologise/ laughed Pembury. ' Perhaps it
would comfort you to kick me. Please choose my right leg,
as the other is off the ground, eh ? '

' The Doctor wants to speak to you, he says/ said

Stephen.

Pembury' s face fell again. * Do you mean to say he saw
the paper, and you told him ? ' he said, angrily.

1 1 showed him the paper, because I thought he had sent
it ; but I didn't tell him who gave it to me.'

' Then why does he want me ? '

* He wants the boy who gave me the paper, that's all he
said,' answered Stephen, walking off sulkily to his quarters,
and leaving Anthony to receive the rebukes of Dr. Senior,
and make his apologies for his evil deeds as best he could.

The offence after all was not a very terrible one, and
Pembury got off with a mild reprimand on the evils of
practical joking, at the end of which he found himself in his
usual amiable frame of mind, and harbouring no malice
against his innocent victim.

'Greenfield/ said he, when shortly afterwards he met
Oliver, ' I owe your young brother an apology.'

' What on earth for ? '

' I set him an examination paper to answer, which I'm
afraid caused him some labour. Never mind, it was all for
the best.'

' What, did that paper he was groaning over come from
you ? What a shame, Tony, to take advantage of a little
beggar like him ! '

' I'm awfully sorry, tell him ; but I say, Greenfield, it'll
make a splendid paragraph for the Dominican. By the way,
are you going to let me have that poem you promised on the
Guinea-pigs ? '

52 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

i I can't get on with it at ail/ said Oliver. ' I'm stuck
for a rhyme in the second line.'

' Oh, stick down anything. How does it begin ? '

» >

'"Oh, dwellers in the land of dim perpetual,

began Oliver.

' Very good ; let's see ; how would this do ?■

"'I hate the day when first I met you all,
And this I undertake to bet you all,
One day I'll into trouble get you all,
And down the playground steps upset you all,
And with a garden hose I'll wet you all,
And then " '

1

c Oh, look here/ said Oliver, 'that'll do. You may as
well finish the thing right out at that rate.'

1 Not at all, my dear fellow. It was just a sudden in-
spiration, you know. Don't mention it, and you may like
to get off that rhyme into another. But I say, Greenfield,
we shall have a stunning paper for the first one. Tom
Senior has written no end of a report of the last meeting of
the Sixth Form Debating Society, quite in the parliamentary
style ; and Bullinger is writing a history of St. Dominic's,
"gathered from the earliest sources," as he says, in which
he's taking off most of the Sixth. Simon is writing a love-
ballad, which is sure to be fun ; and Ricketts is writing a
review of Liddell and Scott's Lexicon; and Wraysford is
engaged on " The Diary of the Sixth Form Mouse.

' Good ! ' said Oliver, ' and what are you writing ? '

( Oh, the leading article, you know, and the personal
notes, and " Squeaks from Guineapigland and Tadpole-
opolis/' and some of the advertisements. Come up to my
study, you and Wray, this evening after prayers, I say, and
we'll go through it.'

And off hobbled the editor of the Dominican, leaving
Oliver greatly impressed with his literary talents, especially
in the matter of finding rhymes for 'perpetual.'

yt t

SHAKING DOWN TO WORK. 53

By the time he and Wraysford went in the evening to read
over what had been sent in, the poem on the Guinea-pigs
was complete.

They found Pembury busy over a huge sheet of paper,
the size of his table.

' What on earth have you got there ? ' cried Wraysford.

'The Dominican, to be sure/ said Anthony, gravely.

* Nonsense I you are not going to get it out in that shape ? '

' I am, though. Look here, you fellows/ said Anthony,
' I'll show you the dodge of the thing. The different
articles will either be copied or pasted into this big sheet.
You see each of these columns is just the width of a sheet
of school paper. Well, here's a margin all round — do you
twig ? — so that when the whole thing's made up it'll be ready
for framing.'

' Framing ! * exclaimed Greenfield and his friend.

' To be sure. I'm getting a big frame, with glass, made
for it, with the title of the paper in big letters painted on the
wood. So the way we shall publish it will be to hang it
outside our class-room, and then every one can come and
read it who likes — much better than passing it round to one
fellow at a time.'

' Upon my word, Tony, it's a capital notion/ exclaimed

Wraysford, clapping the lame boy on the back ; * it does you
credit, my boy/

' Don't mention it/ said Tony ; ' and don't whack me like
that again, or I'll refuse to insert your "Diary of the Sixth
Form Mouse." '

' But, I say/ said Greenfield, ( are you sure they'll allow
it to hang out there? It may get knocked about.'

' I dare say we may have a row with the monitors about
it ; but we must square them somehow. We shall have to
keep a fag posted beside it, though, to protect it.'

'And to say "Move on!" like the policemen/ added
Wraysford. ' Well, it's evident you don't want any help,
Tony, so I'll go. 1

54 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' Good-bye ; don't ask me to your study for supper,
please.'

' I'm awfully sorry, I promised Bullinger. I know he
has a dozen sausages in his cupboard. Come along there.
Are you coming, Greenfield ? '

And the worthy friends separated for a season.

Meanwhile, Stephen had made his debut in the Fourth
Junior. He was put to sit at the bottom desk of the class,
which happened to be next to the desk owned by Master
Bramble, the inky-headed blanket-snatcher. This young
gentleman, bearing in mind his double humiliation, seemed
by no means gratified to find who his new neighbour was.

' Horrid young blub-baby ! ' was his affectionate greeting,
' I don't want you next to me.'

'I can't help it/ said Stephen. 'I was put here.'

' Oh, yes, because you're such an ignorant young sneak ;
that's why/

'I suppose that's why you were at the bottom before I
came — oh ! '

The last exclamation was uttered aloud, being evoked by
a dig from the amiable Master Bramble's inky pen into
Stephen's leg.

'Who was that?' said Mr. Rastle, looking up from his
desk.

'Now then,' whispered Bramble, 'sneak away — tell tales,
and get me into a row — I'll pay you ! '

Stephen, feeling himself called upon, stood up.

' It was me, 7 he said.

'It was /, would be better grammar,' said Mr. Rastle,
quietly.

Mr. Rastle was a ruddy young man, with a very good-
humoured face, and a sly smile constantly playing at the
corners of his mouth. He no doubt guessed the cause of
the disturbance, for he asked, ' Was any one pinching you ? '

' Go it,' growled Bramble, in a savage whisper. * Say it
was me, you sneak/

SHAKING DOWN TO WORK. 5$

Stephen said, No, no one had pinched him ; but finished
up his sentence with another ' Oh I ' as the gentle Bramble
gave him a sharp side kick on the ankle as he stood.

Mr. Rastle's face darkened as he perceived this last piece
of by-play.

'Bramble/ said he, * oblige me by standing on the form
for half an hour. I should be sorry to think you were as
objectionable as your name implies. Sit down, Greenfield.'

And then the class resumed, with Master Bramble perched
like a statue of the sulky deity on his form, muttering threats
against Greenfield all the while, and the most scathing
denunciations against all who might be even remotely
connected with big brothers, and mammies, and blub-babies.

Stephen, who was beginning to feel himself much more
at home at St. Dominic's, betrayed no visible terror at these
menaces, and only once took any notice of his exalted
enemy, when the latter attempted not only to stand on the
form, but upon a tail of Stephen's jacket, and a bit of the
flesh of his leg at the same time. Then he gave the
offending foot a knock with his fist and an admonitory
push.

* Please, sir/ squeaked the lordly Bramble, 'Greenfield
junior is trying to knock me over.'

' I was not,' shouted Stephen ; ' he was squashing me with
his foot, and I moved it away.'

'Really, Bramble/ said Mr. Rastle, 'you are either very
unfortunate or very badly behaved. Come and stand on
this empty form beside my desk. There will be no danger
here of " squashing " any one's leg or of being knocked
over. Come at once/

So Mr. Bramble took no advantage by his last motion, and
served the rest of his term of penal servitude, in the face of
the entire class, under the immediate eye of Mr. Rastle.

Directly class was over, Stephen had to go and wait upon
Loman for a particular purpose, which the reader must hear
of in due time.

(56)

CHAPTER VI.

MR. CRIPPS THE YOUNGER.

OMAN was a comparatively new boy at St. Dominic's.
He had entered eighteen months ago, in the Fifth
Form, having come direct from another school. He was
what many persons would call an agreeable boy, although
for some reason or other he was never very popular. What
that something was, no one could exactly define. He was
clever, and good-tempered, and inoffensive. He rarely
quarrelled or interfered with any one, and he had been
known to do more than one good-natured act. But whether
it was that he was conceited, or selfish, or not quite straight,
or a little bit of all three, he never made any very great
friends at St Dominic's, and since he had got into the Sixth
and been made a monitor, he had quite lost the favour of
his old comrades in the Fifth.

As far as Wraysford and Greenfield were concerned, this
absence of goodwill had ripened into something like sore-
ness, by the way in which Loman had made use of his own
position as a monitor, on a casual reference by Oliver to the
probable coming of Stephen to St. Dominic's, to secure that
young gentleman as his fag, although he quite well knew
that Wraysford was counting on having him. Though of
course the captain's word was final, the two friends felt that
they had not been quite fairly dealt with in the matter.
They took no trouble to conceal what they thought from
Loman himself, who seemed to derive considerable satisfac-

MR. CRIP PS THE YOUNGER. 57

tion from the fact, and to determine to keep his hand on
the new boy quite as much for the sake of 'scoring off' his
rivals as on the fag's own account.

Loman, Wraysford, and Greenfield were rivals in more
matters than one. They were all three candidates for a
place in the school eleven, and all three candidates for the
Nightingale Scholarship next autumn.; and besides this, they
each of them aspired to control the Junior Dominicans;
and it was a sore mortification to Loman to find that, though
a monitor, his influence among the small fry was by no
means as great as that of the two Fifth Form boys, who were
notoriously popular, and thought much of by their juniors.

For these and other reasons, the relations between the
two friends and Loman were at the present time a little
' strained.'

To Stephen, however, Loman was all civility. He helped
him in his lessons, and gave him the reversion of his
feasts, and exercised his monitorial authority against Master
Bramble in a way that quite charmed the new boy, and made
him consider himself fortunate to have fallen into the hands
of so considerate a lord.

When he entered Loman's study after his first morning's
work in class, he found that youth in a highly amiable
frame of mind, and delighted to see him.

* Hullo, Greenfield ! ' he said ; ' how are you ? and how
are you getting on ? I hear you are in the Fourth Junior ;
all among the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles, eh? Which do
you belong to?'

' I don't know/ said Stephen ; ( they are going to draw
lots for me to-morrow.'

' That's a nice way of being elected ! I say, have you
any classes this afternoon ? '

'No; Mr. Rastle has given us a half-holiday.'

'That's just the thing. I'm going to scull up the river a
bit after dinner, and if you'd like you can come and steer
for me.'

58 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

Stephen was delighted. Of all things he liked boating.
They lived near a river at home, he said, and he always
used to steer for Oliver there.

So, as soon as dinner was over, the two went down to the
boathouse and embarked.

'Which way shall you row?' asked Stephen, as he made
himself comfortable in the stern of the boat, and took charge
of the rudder-lines.

4 Oh, up stream. Keep close in to the bank, out of the
current.'

It was a beautiful afternoon, and Loman paddled lazily
and luxuriously up, giving ample time to Stephen, if so
inclined, to admire the wooded banks and picturesque
windings of the Shar. Gusset Lock was reached in due
time, and here Loman suggested that Stephen should get
out and go round and look at the weir, while he went on
and took the boat through. Stephen acceded and landed,
and Loman paddled on to the lock.

' Hello, maister,' called down a feeble old voice, as he
got up to the gate.

' Hullo, Jeff, is Cripps about? ' replied Loman.

' Yas ; he be inside or somewheres, maister/ replied the
old lock-keeper.

' All right ! take the boat up ; I want to see Cripps/

Cripps was the son of the old man whom Loman had
addressed as Jeff. He was not exactly a gentleman, for he
kept the Cockchafer public-house at Maltby, and often
served behind the bar in his own person. Neither was he
altogether a reputable person, for he frequently helped him-
self to an overdose of his own beverages, besides being a
sharp hand at billiards, and possessing several packs of cards
with extra aces in them. Neither was he a particularly re-
fined personage, for his choice of words was often more
expressive than romantic, and his ordinary conversation was
frequently the reverse of edifying ; it mainly had to do with
details of the stable or the card-room, and the anecdotes

MR. CRIP PS THE YOUNGER. 59

with which he enlivened it were often ' broader than they
were long/ to put it mildly. In short, Cripps was a black-
guard by practice, whatever he was by profession. He
had, however, one redeeming virtue ; he was very partial to
young gentlemen, and would go a good bit out of his way to
meet one. He always managed to know of something that
young gentlemen had a fancy for. He could put them into
the way of getting a thoroughbred bull-dog dirt-cheap ; he
could put them up to all the tips at billiards and ' Nap/ and
he could make up a book for them on the Derby or any other
race, that was bound to win. And he did it all in such a
pleasant, frank way that the young gentlemen quite fell in
love with him, and entrusted their cash to him with as much
confidence as if he were the Bank of England.

Of all the young gentlemen whose privilege it had been
to make the acquaintance of Mr. Cripps — and there were a
good many — he professed the greatest esteem and admira-
tion for Loman, of St Dominic's school, to whom he had
been only recently introduced. The two had met at the
lock-keeper's house a week ago, when Loman was detained
there an hour or two by stress of weather, and, getting into
conversation, as gentlemen naturally would, Loman chanced
to mention that he wanted to come across a really good
fishing-rod.

By a most curious coincidence, Mr. Cripps had only the
other day been asked by a particular friend of his, who was
removing from the country to London — ' where,' said Mr.
Cripps, 'there ain't over much use for a rod' — if he knew
of any one in want of a really good fishing-rod. It was none
of your ordinary ones, made out of green wood with pewter
joints, but a regular first-class article, and would do for
trout or perch or jack, or any mortal fish you could think
of. Cripps had seen it, and flattered himself he knew some-
thing about rods, but had never seen one to beat this. Reel
and all, too, and a book of flies into the bargain, if he liked.
He had been strongly tempted to get it for himself — it

60 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

seemed a downright sin to let such a beauty go — and would
have it if he had not already got a rod, but of a far inferior
sort, of his own. And he believed his friend would part
with it cheap.

' I tell you what, young gentleman/ said he, * I'll bring it
up with me next time I come, and you shall have a look at
it. Of course, you can take it or not, as you like, but if my
advice is worth anything — well, never mind, I suppose you
are sure to be up stream in the course of the next week
or so.'

' Oh, yes,' said Loman, who in the presence of this
universal genius was quite deferential; 'when .can you
bring it?'

' Well, my time ain't so very valuable, and I'd like to
oblige you over this little affair. Suppose we say to-day
week. I'll have the rod here, and you can try him.'

' Thank you — have you — that is — about what — '

' You mean, about what figure will he want for it ? Well,
I don't know exactly. They run so very various, do good
rods. You could get what they call a rod for ten bob, I
dare say. But you wouldn't hardly fancy that style of
thing.'

'Oh no; if it was a really good one/ said Loman, 'I
wouldn't mind giving a good price. I don't want a rotten
one.'

'That's just it. This one I'm telling you of is as sound
as a bell, and as strong as iron. And you know, as well as
I do, these things are always all the better after a little use.
My friend has only used this twice. But I'll find out about
the price, and drop you a line, you know. May be £2 or

£h or so.'

( I suppose that's about what a really good rod ought to
cost ? ' said Loman, who liked to appear to know what was
what, but secretly rather taken aback by this estimate.

' So it is. It's just a guess of mine though ; but I know
for me he'll put it as low as he can.'

MR. CRIP PS THE YOUNGER. 61

'I'm sure I shall be very much obliged to you/ said
Loman, ' if you can manage it for me.'

' Not at all, young gentleman. I always like to oblige
where I can ; besides, you would do as much for me, I'll
wager. Well, good day, Mr. — what's your name ? '

' Loman — at St. Dominic's. You'll send me a line, then

about the price ? '

1 Yes, sir. Good-day, sir.'

But Mr. Cripps had forgotten to send the line, and to-day,
when Loman, according to arrangement, came up to the
lock-keeper's to receive the rod, the keeper of the Cock-
chafer was most profuse in his apologies. He was most
sorry, but his friend had been ill and not able to attend to
business. He had been a trifle afraid from what he heard
that he was not quite as anxious to part with that rod as
formerly. But Cripps had gone over on purpose and seen
him, and got his promise that he should have it to-morrow
certain, and if Mr. Loman would call or send up, it should
be ready for him, without fail.

At this stage, Stephen, having explored the weir, rejoined
his schoolfellow, and the two, after partaking of a bottle of
ginger-beer at Mr. Cripps's urgent request, returned with the
stream to St. Dominic's.

The result of this delay was to make Loman doubly
anxious to secure this famous fishing-rod, on which his
heart was set. Next day, however, he had classes all the
afternoon, and could not go himself. He therefore deter-
mined to send Stephen.

' I want you to run up to Gusset Weir,' said he to his fag,
* to fetch me a rod the keeper's son is getting for me. Be
quick back, will you ? and ask him what the price is.'

So off Stephen trotted, as soon as school was over, in
spite of the counter attraction of a Guineapig cricket match.
When he reached the lock, Cripps had not arrived.

* He warn't be long, young maister/ said old Jeff, who was
one of the snivelling order. * Take a seat, do'ee. Nice to

62 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

be a young gemm'un, I says — us poor coves as works
wery 'ard, we'd like to be young gemm'un too, with lots o'
money, and all so comfortable off. Why, young maister,
you don't know now what it is to be in want of a shillun.
I do ! '

Stephen promptly pulled out one of his five shillings of
pocket-money in answer to this appeal, and felt rather
ashamed to appear ' comfortable off' in the presence of this
patriarch.

' Not that I complains o' my lot, young gemm'un,' con-
tinued old Cripps, pulling his forelock with one hand and
pocketing the shilling with the other. ' No, I says, the
honest working man don't do no good a-grumblin', but when
he's got his famerly to feed ' [old Cripps was a widower, and
his family consisted of the landlord of the Cockchafer],
' and on'y this here shillin' to do it with — '

Stephen was very green. He almost cried at the sight of
this destitute, tottering, honest old man, and before the
latter could get farther in his lament another shilling was in
his palsied old hand, and the grey old forelock was enduring
another tug.

It was well for Stephen that Mr. Cripps junior turned up
at this juncture, or the entire five shillings might have made
its way into the old man's pouch.

Mr. Cripps junior had the rod. He had had a rare job,
he said, to get it, for his friend had only yesterday had an
offer of £$ I S s -i an d was a ^ DUt taking it. However, here
it was, and for only £$ 10s. tell Mr. Loman ; such a bargain
as he wouldn't often make in his life, and he could get him
the fly-book for a sov. if he liked. And Mr. Cripps would
charge him nothing for his trouble.

After this Mr. Cripps junior and the boy got quite friendly.
The former was. greatly interested in hearing about St.
Dominic's, especially when he understood Stephen was a
new boy. Cripps could remember the day when he was a
new boy, and had to fight three boys in three hours the first

-E

&.^

s 2*

64 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

afternoon. He was awfully fond of cricket when he was a
boy. Was Stephen ?

' Oh, yes/ said Stephen ; ' I like it more than anything/

'Ah, you should have seen the way we played. Bless
me ! I'd a bat, my boy, that could tip the balls clean over
the schoolhouse. You've got a bat, of course, or else — '

* No, I haven't/ said Stephen. ' I shall get one as soon
as I can.'

' Well, that is lucky ! Look here, young gentleman/
continued Cripps confidentially ; * I've taken a fancy to you.
It's best to be plain and speak out. I've taken a fancy to
you, and you shall have that bat. It's just your size, and the
finest bit of willow you ever set eyes on. I'll wager you'll

make top score every time you use it. You shall have it.
Never mind about the stumpy — '

' Stumpy ! ' ejaculated Stephen ; ' I don't want stumps,
only a bat.'

' What I meant to say was, never mind about the price.
You can give me what you like for it. I wish I could make
you a present of it. My eye, it's a prime bat ! Spliced !
Yes. Treble cane, as I'm a poor man. I'll send it up to
you, see if I don't, and you can pay when you like.'

And so he chattered on, in a way which quite charmed
Stephen, and made him rejoice in his new friend, and still
more at the prospect of the bat.

' If it's awfully dear/ he said, at parting, with a sort of
sigh, * I couldn't afford it. My pocket money's nearly all

gone.'

He did not say how.

'Oh, never mind, not if you don't pay at all/ replied the
genial Cripps. 'You'll be having more tin soon, I bet.'

' Not till June/ said Stephen.

'Well, leave it till June — no matter. But you may as
well have the use of the bat now. Good-day, Master
Green— '

' Greenfield, Stephen Greenfield/ said Stephen.

MR. CRIP PS THE YOUNGER. 65

'Good-day, and give my respects to Mr. Loman, and I
hope I shall see you both again/

Stephen hoped so too, and went off, highly elated, with
Loman's rod under his arm.

Loman pulled rather a long face at hearing the price, and
pulled a still longer face when Stephen told him about the
bat. He read his fag a long lecture about getting into debt
and pledging his pocket-money in advance.

That evening Stephen was solemnly tossed up for by the
Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles. ' Heads, Guinea-pigs ; tails,
Tadpoles.' It turned up heads, and from that time forward
Greenfield junior was a Guinea-pig.

(66)

CHAPTER VII.

THE ' DOMINICAN/ NUMBER ONE.

THE eventful day had come at last. Anthony and his
confederates had worked hard, evening after evening,
in the secrecy of their studies, and the first number of the
Dominican was ready for publication. The big frame had
been smuggled in, and the big sheet was now safely lodged
behind the glass, with its eight broad columns of clearly-
written manuscript all ready to astonish St. Dominic's.
Two nails had surreptitiously been driven into the wall
outside the Fifth Form room, on which the precious docu-
ment was to be suspended, and Tony only waited for Mights
out ' to creep down and, with the aid of Ricketts and
Bullinger, fix it in position. Everything succeeded well.
The secret had been kept most carefully, and when, next
morning, St. Dominic's woke up and swarmed down the
passage past the Fifth Form class-room, the sight of a huge
frame, with the words The Dominican staring out from it,
and several yards of writing underneath, fairly startled them.
Master Paul, the fag who had been deputed to the no easy
task of preserving the structure from injury, had a hard
time of it, there was such a hustling and crowding in front
of it whenever classes were not going on. The little boys
squeezed in front ; the bigger boys read over their heads ;
the Sixth examined it from the back of the crowd, and the
Fifth Form from various positions watched with complacency
the effect of this venture.

THE < DOMINICAN] NUMBER ONE. 67

At first it was looked upon as a curiosity, then as a joke ;
then gradually it dawned on St. Dominic's that it was a
Fifth Form production, and finally it appeared in its true
light as a school newspaper.

Loman, attracted by the crowd of boys, strolled down the
passage to the place and joined the group, just as a small
boy was reading aloud the following descriptive extract from

'Our Special Correspondent in

Guinea-pig Land :

: Last night the ceremony of admitting a new member
into the ancient and honourable craft of Guinea-pigs was
celebrated with the usual mysteries. The event took place
in the fourth junior class-room. The Guinea-pigs assembled
in force, with blackened faces and false whiskers. The
lights being put out, Brother Bilke proposed, and Brother
Smudge seconded, the election of the new aspirant, and the
motion being put to the Guinea pigs, was received with a
unanimous grunt. The Guinea-pig elect was then admitted.
He was classically attired in. a pair of slippers and a collar,
and the ceremony of initiation at once commenced. The
candidate was stretched across the lowest desk, face down-
wards, and in this position greeted with the flat side of a
cricket-bat by the junior brother present. He was then
advanced to the next desk, where a similar compliment was
paid by the next youngest ; and so on to the senior brother
present. Half way through the ceremony the new member
expressed a desire to withdraw his candidature, but this
motion was negatived by a large majority. When our
reporter left, the ceremony was being repeated with the
round side of the bat. We understand the new Guinea-pig
is keeping his bed to-day after the exciting ceremony of
initiation.'

This was capital fun, and greatly appreciated by all —
even by Stephen, who knew it was intended to represent his

68 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

own experience, which, mercifully, had not been nearly so
sore as pictured.

But the next extract was not quite as pleasing.

'Cricket Notice.

'The Alphabet Match will be played on Saturday. The
following are the two elevens [and here the list followed].
Of these twenty-two players, it is worthy of mention that
fourteen are from the Fifth, and only eight from the Sixth.
What is our Sixth coming to ? '

This was not at all gratifying to the Sixth Form fellows
present. It was unfortunately true, but they did not at all
fancy such prominence being given to the fact. The next
extract was still more pointed.

' Sixth Form Debating Society.

'The usual meeting of the Sixth Form Debating Society
was held last week, the Doctor in the chair. A sprinkling
of lads from the Fifth, in their Sunday coats and collars,
was present, by kind permission. The subject for discussion
was, " That the present Sixth is degenerate." In the
absence of anymember of the Sixth to open the discussion,
Master Bramble, captain of the Tadpoles, kindly undertook
the task. He had no hesitation in asserting that the Sixth
were degenerate. They had fallen off in cricket since he
could remember, and in intellect, he was sorry to say, the
falling-Oil was still worse. If they would take his advice,
they would avoid the playground during the present season,
and by all means withdraw their candidate for the Night-
ingale Scholarship, as he was certain to be beaten by boys
in a lower form. As to behaviour, he could point to virtuous
behaviour among the Tadpoles, quite equal to that of the
monitors. He didn't wish to ask questions, but would like
to know what they all found so attractive in Maltby. Then,
too, they all oiled their hair. No previous Sixth had ever

THE ( DOMINICAN] NUMBER ONE. 69

been guilty of this effeminacy, or of wearing lavender kid
gloves on Sundays. He repeated, " What were we coming
to ? " '

' Mr. R — g — h opened in the negative. He denied all
the charges made by the young gentleman who had last
spoken. He undertook to get up an eleven to beat any
eleven the Tadpoles could put into the field ; and as to
intellect, why, didn't the Tadpoles, some of them, get their
sums done by the Sixth ? Besides, even if their intellect
was weak, couldn't they use cribs ? He didn't use .them
himself, but he knew one or two who did. He didn't
understand the objection to the hair-oil ; he used it to make
the hair sit down on his head. [Raleigh, it should be said,
had a most irrepressible bunch of curls on his head.] He
wore kid gloves on Sunday because he had had a pair given
him by his great-aunt Jane Ann. He maintained the Sixth
was not degenerate.

' Mr. L — m — n followed on the same side. He thought
it the greatest liberty of any one to discuss the Sixth. He
was a Sixth Form fellow, and a monitor, and if he wasn't
looked up to he ought to be, and he intended to be. He
was in the cricket eleven, and he was intellectual — very, very
much so. He was going in for the Nightingale Scholarship,
and had no doubt in his own mind as to the result. He
hardly understood his friend's reference to Maltby. Why
shouldn't he go there and take his fag too if he chose ? He
didn't see what right the Fifth had to fags at all. He had a

fag, but then he was in the Sixth. His fag admired him,
and he never told him not to. The Sixth could not be
degenerate so long as he was in it.'

' Other speakers followed, including Mr. W — r — n, who
maintained that Michael Angelo was a greater musician than
Queen Anne. He was here called to order, and reminded
that Michael Angelo had nothing to do with the degeneracy
of the Sixth. He begged leave to explain — *

'At this point our reporter fell asleep.'

70 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

The laughter which greeted the reading of this extract
was by no means shared by the Sixth Form boys present,
who, had the next selection been in a similar strain, would
have quitted the scene and taken their chance of satisfying
their curiosity as to the rest of the contents of the paper at
a more convenient season.

But the next lucubration was the unfortunate Stephen's
examination paper, with the answers thereto embellished,
and in many cases bodily supplied, by the fertile Anthony.
The luckless Stephen, who was wedged up in the front row
of readers, could have sunk into the earth on meeting once
more that hateful paper face to face, and feeling himself an
object of ridicule to the whole school. For the wonderful
answers which now appeared were hardly any of them his
own composition, and he did not even get credit for the few
correct things he had said. Shouts of laughter greeted the
reading, during which he dared not lift his eyes from the
ground. But the answer to Question 6, ' What is a minus ? '
was more than human flesh and blood could endure.

' What is a Minus ?

* " Minus " is derived from two English words, " my,"
meaning my, and "nus," which is the London way of pro-
nouncing " nurse." My nurse is a dear creature; I love
her still, especially now she doesn't wash my face. I hated
having my face washed. My nurse's name is Mrs. Blake,
but I always call her my own Noodle-oodle-oo. I do love
her so ! How I would like to hug her ! She sewed the
strings of my little flannel vest on in front just before I
came here because she knew I couldn't tie them behind by
myself-

'She didn't ! ' shouted Stephen, in a voice trembling with
indignation.

Poor boy ! The laughter which greeted this simple
exclamation was enough to finish up any one, and, with

THE 'DOMINICAN^ NUMBER ONE. 71

a bursting heart, and a face crimson with confusion, he
struggled out of the crowd and ran as fast as his legs would
take him to his own class-room.

But if he imagined in his misery that the whole school
was going to spend the entire day jeering at him, and him
alone, he was greatly mistaken, for once out of sight Stephen
soon passed out of mind in presence of the next elegant
extract read out for the benefit of the assembled audience.
This was no other than Simon's ' Love Ballad.'

Simon, it should be known, was one of the dullest boys
in St. Dominic's, and it was a standing marvel how he ever
came to be in the Fifth, for he was both a dunce and an
idiot. But he had one ambition and one idea, which was
that he could write poetry ; and the following touching
ballad from his pen he offered to the Dominican, and the
Dominican showed its appreciation of real talent by
inserting it :

'A Love Ballad.

1 I wish I was a buttercup,

Upon the mountain top,
That you might sweetly pick me up,

And sweetly let me drop.
I wish I was a little worm,

All rigling 1 in the sun,
That I myself towards thee might turn

When thou along didst come.
Oh, I wish I was a doormat, sweet,

All prostrate on the floor,
If only thou wouldst wipe thy feet,

On me, what could I want more ? '

Simon, who, with true poet's instinct, was standing among
the crowd listening to his own poem, was somewhat per-
plexed by the manner in which his masterpiece was received.
That every one was delighted there could be no doubt.
But he had an impression he had meant the ballad to be
pathetic. St. Dominic's, however, had taken it up another

1 Pcssibly 'wriggling/

72 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

way, and appeared to regard it as facetious. At any rate
his fame was made, and looking as if a laurel wreath already
encircled his brow, he modestly retired, feeling no further
interest, now his own piece was ended.

Oliver's poem on the Tadpoles, with its marvellous
rhymes, fell comparatively flat after this ; and Bullinger's
first chapter of the History of St. Dominic's failed to rivet
the attention of the audience, which, however, became
suddenly and painfully absorbed in the ' Diary of the Sixth
Form Mouse/ from the pen of Wraysford. We must inflict
a few passages from this document on the reader, as the
paper was the cause of some trouble hereafter.

' Diary of the Sixth Form Mouse.

* Monday. — Up early and took a good breakfast in one of
the desks where there was a jam sandwich and several
toffee-drops. The Sixth seem to like jam sandwiches and
toffee-drops, there are some of them in nearly every desk.
The desk I was in had a packet of cigarettes in one corner.
They were labelled " Mild." I wonder why the Sixth like
their cigarettes mild. In the same desk were one or two
books written by a man called Bohn ; they seemed queer
books, for they had Latin and Greek names outside, but all
the reading inside was English. It is sad to see the quarrel-
ling that goes on in this room. You would not suppose, to
see these monitors walking grandly up and down the
passages striking terror into the hearts of all the small boys,
that they could possibly condescend to quarrel over the
possession of an inkpot or the ownership of an acid-drop
found among the cinders. Alas ! it is very sad. They
don't seem anything like the Sixth of old days. I shall
emigrate if this goes on.

* Wednesday. — A great row to-day when the Doctor was
out of the room. The two senior monitors engaged in a
game of marbles — knuckle down — in the course of which

THE 'DOMINICAN] NUMBER ONE. 73

one player accused the other of cheating. There was
nearly a fight, only neither seemed exactly to like to begin,
and both appeared relieved when the Doctor came in and
confiscated the marbles/

And so the diary went on, in a strain highly offensive to
the Sixth and equally delighting to the lower forms. After
this the Sixth withdrew, not caring to face further taunts of
the kind, and leaving a free field to the rest of St. Dominic's,
who perused this wonderful broadside to the end with un-
flagging interest. Some of the advertisements with which
Tony had filled up the gaps caused considerable mirth —
such as this : ' A gentleman about to clear out his desk,
begs to give notice that he will Sell by Auction to-morrow
after "Lights out," all those rare and valuable articles, to
wit : — i^ gross best cherry stones, last year's, in excellent
condition. About twelve assorted bread crusts, warranted
dry and hard — one with a covering of fossilised sardine.
Six quires of valuable manuscript notes on various subjects,
comprising Latin, Greek, Mathematics, French, and Crambo.
One apple, well seasoned, and embellished with a brilliant
green fur of two years' growth. And many other mis-
cellaneous treasures, such as slate pencils, nutshells, an
antique necktie, several defunct silkworms, a noble three-
bladed knife (deficient of the blades), and half a pound of
putty. No reserve price. Must be cleared out at whatever
sacrifice.'

And this was another : —

'This is to give notice, that whereas certain parties calling
themselves Guinea-pigs have infringed on our patent rights,
we, the Tadpoles of St. Dominic's, have been and are from
time immemorial entitled to the exclusive privilege of ap-
pearing in public with dirty faces, uncombed hair, and inky
fingers. We have also the sole right of making beasts of
ourselves on every possible occasion ; and we hereby declare
that it is our intention to institute proceedings against all
parties, of whatever name, who shall hereafter trespass on

74 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

these our inalienable rights. By order, B. Smudgeface and
T. Blacknose, Secretaries.'

This final onslaught broke up the party. The aggrieved
Tadpoles rushed to their quarters and fumed and raged
themselves into a state bordering on . madness ; and vowed
revenge till they were hoarse.

It was a curious fact, nevertheless, that at prayers that
evening there were more clean faces among the Tadpoles
than had been seen there since the formation of that ancient
and honourable fraternity.

(75)

CHAPTER VIII.

A QUARREL AND A CRICKET MATCH.

HE first number of the Dominican had undoubtedly
caused a sensation ; and it would have created far
more sensation but for the fact that the Alphabet Match
was to be played on the following day. But even this
counter-attraction could not wholly divert the mind of
St. Dominic's from this new literary marvel ; and a skirmish
took place on the very afternoon of its appearance.

Pembury and his friends had quite expected that the
Sixth would attempt a high-handed blow at their paper, and
they were not disappointed. For no sooner had Loman
and his peers stalked away from the scene of their indigna-
tion, and found themselves in the retirement of their own
room, than they fell to talking in terms the reverse of
pleasant about the event of the morning. The least im-
portant of their number was specially wroth.

'There's a great row out in the passage to-day,' said
Raleigh, who was blissfully ignorant of the whole matter ;
'why can't some of you monitors keep a little better

order? The Doctor will be wanting to know what it's all
about ! '

' All very well/ said Raikes, one of the monitors; 'but
if the Fifth will stick their tomfoolery out in the passage,
there's sure to be a row.'

* What tomfoolery? Some of you are for ever grumbling
at the Fifth.'

76 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

' And so would you if you saw the complimentary remarks
they make about you in this precious newspaper of theirs.'

' Oh, the Dominican ? I must have a look at it by and by ;
but meanwhile something had better be done to stop that
row, or we shall catch it ourselves/

And so saying, the captain left these injured youths to
their own counsels, which it is to be feared were moved
more by dislike for the Dominican than by a burning desire
for the goo4 order of the school.

However, they must do something; and there would be
nothing inconsistent with their dignity in demanding the
withdrawal of the obnoxious broadside on account of the
noise it caused. This would be a safe move, and might be
checkmate. Loman was deputed to wait upon the Fifth
with the demand of the monitors, and lost no time in
carrying out this welcome task. Class was just over, and
the Fifth were just about to clear out of their room when
Loman entered. It was not often that a Sixth Form fellow
penetrated into their camp, and had they not guessed his
mission they might have resented the intrusion.

' Oh, you fellows,' began Loman, feeling not quite so
confident now as he had felt five minutes ago, ' we can't
have that thing of yours hanging out in the passage like
that. It makes a crowd — too much row. Whose is it ? '

'Not mine/ said Wraysford, laughing; 'ask Bully
perhaps it's his.'

'Not a bit of it/ said Bullinger; 'it's yours, isn't it,Simon?'

' Only part/ said the poet of the ' Love Ballad/ ' and I
presented that to the paper.'

' Suppose it was mine ? ' said Oliver, with a drawl.

' Then/ said Loman, losing his temper, ' all I can say is,
the sooner you clear it away the better.'

' Oh ! all right ; only it's not mine.'

' Look here/ said Loman, ' I'm not going to fool about
with you. You may think it all very funny, but I'll report
it to the Doctor, and then you'll look foolish.'

A QUARREL AND A CRICKET MATCH. 77

' How nice ! So pleasant it will be to look for once like
what you look always,' observed Pembury, gnawing the top
of his crutch.

At that moment there was a loud shout of laughter in
the passage outside, confirming the monitor's complaint.
Wraysford walked hastily to the door.

'The next time there's a row like that outside our door/

called he to the group outside, ' we'll what do you mean

by it, you young blackguard ? '

So saying, he caught Master Bramble, who happened to
be the nearest offender within reach, by the collar of his
coat, and lugged him bodily into the class-room.

' There, now ! Do you know this gentleman ? He's a
monitor. Have a good look at him. He's been com-
plaining of the row you are making, and quite rightly.
Take that, and tell all the little Pigs outside that if they
don't hold their noise they will find themselves, every man
jack of them, mentioned by name in the next number ! '

So saying, with a gentle cuff he handed the ill-starred
Master Bramble out again to his fellows, and from that time
there was scarcely a sound' audible from the passage.

'Good-bye,' said Pembury, kissing his hand to Loman,
who all this time had been standing in the middle of the
room, in a white heat, and perplexed what to do or say
next.

* You aren't going to live here, are you ? ' asked
Bullinger.

' Any one got a toffee-drop ? ' drily inquired Oliver.
To his surprise, and to the surprise of every one, Loman
wheeled round towards the last speaker, and without a word
struck him a blow on the mouth with his hand.

He saw he had made a mistake, and looked ashamed the
moment the deed was done. All eyes turned to Oliver,
whose face was crimson with a sudden flush of pain and
anger. He sprang to his feet, and Braddy, the bully, was
already beginning to gloat over the prospect of a fight, when,

78 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

to every one's amazement, Oliver coolly put his hands back
into his pockets, and walking up to Loman said, quietly,

* Hadn't you better go? '

Loman stared at him in astonishment. He had at least
expected to be knocked down, and this., behaviour was quite
incomprehensible.

He turned on' his heel and quitted the room without a
word ; and somehow or other from that time the Fifth
heard no more protests from the monitors on the subject of
the Dominican.

But Oliver's conduct, much as it had astonished the
person chiefly concerned, had astonished the Fifth still
more. For the first time in the history of their class, as far
as they could recollect, a blow struck had not been returned,
and they could not tell what to make of it.

The blow had been a cowardly one, and certainly un-
merited, and by all schoolboy tradition one fairly de-
manding a return. Could it be possible their man was
lacking in courage ? The idea was a shock to most present,
who, although Oliver was never very popular among them,
as has been said, had never before suspected his pluck. In
fact, it was an awkward moment for all, and it was quite a
relief when Simon broke silence by asking Oliver,

* Why didn't you knock him down, I say ? '

* Because I did not choose, if you want to know/ replied
Oliver, shortly.

'Oh! I beg your pardon,' replied Simon, rather taken
aback by this brusque answer.

This was not satisfactory. Had the offender been a
Guinea-pig, one could have understood the thing ; but when
it was a Sixth Form fellow — a good match in every respect,
as well as a rival — the Fifth were offended at their man for
drawing back as he had done.

' I suppose you will fight him ? ' said Ricketts, in a voice
which implied that there was no doubt about it.

* Do you ? ' replied Oliver, briefly.

A QUARREL AND A CRICKET MATCH. 79

The boy's manner was certainly not winsome, and, when
once put out, it was evident he took no trouble to conceal
the fact. He refused to answer any further questions on
the subject, and presently quitted the room, leaving more
than half his class-fellows convinced that, after all, he was
a coward.

An angry discussion followed his departure.

' He ought to be made to fight, whether he likes or not/
said Braddy the bully.

* Some one ought to pay Loman out, 7 suggested Ricketts,
'if Greenfield doesn't.'

'A nice name we shall get, all of us,' said Bullinger,
'when it gets abroad all over the school.'

' It's a shame, because one fellow funks, for the whole
Form to be disgraced ; that's what I say,' said some one
else.

There were, however, two boys who did not join in this
general cry of indignation against Oliver, and they were
Wraysford and Pembury. The latter was always whimsical
in his opinions, and no one was surprised to see him come
out on the wrong side. As for Wraysford, he always backed
his friend up, whether others thought him right or wrong.
These two scouted the idea of Oliver being a coward ; the
one with his usual weapon of ridicule, the other with all the

^

warmth of friendship.

' Who calls him a coward ? ' exclaimed Wraysford, glaring
at the last speaker.

Wraysford was not a coward, and looked so^ ready to
avenge his friend by hard knocks, that the boy who had in^
sinuated that Greenfield was afraid withdrew his charge as
mildly as he could. ' I only meant, it looks as if he didn't
like to fight,' he said.

' And what business of yours is it what it looks like ? '
demanded Wraysford.

'Come, old man,' said Pembury; 'don't eat him up! I
fancy Greenfield might screw up courage to pull his nose,

80 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

whoever else he lets off, eh? It's my private opinion,
though, Oliver knew what he was about.'

'Of course he did/ sneered Braddy; 'he knew jolly
well what he was about.'

' Dear me ! Is that you, Mr. Braddy ? I had not
noticed you here, or I should not have ventured to speak on
a matter having to do with pluck and heroism. I'm glad
you agree with me, though, although I didn't say he knew
jolly well what he was about. That is an expression of
your own.'

Braddy, who as usual felt and looked extinguished when
Pembury made fun of him, retired sulkily, and the editor
of the Dominican thereupon turned his attack on another
quarter. And so the dispute went on, neither party being
convinced, and all satisfied only on one point — that a cloud
had arisen to mar the hitherto peaceful horizon of Fifth

Form existence.

The cricket match of the following day, however, served
to divert the thoughts of all parties for a time.

As it was only the prelude to a much more important
match shortly to follow, I shall not attempt to describe it
fully here, as the reader will probably be far more interested
in the incidents of Sixth v. School Match when it
comes off.

The Alphabet Match was, to tell the truth, not nearly as
interesting an affair as it promised to be, for from the very
first the N's to Z's had the best of it. Stephen, who with
a company of fellow-Tadpoles and Guinea-pigs was perched
on the palings, looking on, felt his heart sink within him as
first one and then another of his brother's side lost their
wickets without runs. For once he and Bramble w T ere in
sympathy, and he and Paul were at difference. The row
these small boys kicked up, by the way, was one of the
most notable features of the whole match. Every one of
them yelled for his own side. There had, indeed, been a
question whether every Guinea-pig, whatever his private

A QUARREL AND A CRICKET MATCH. 81

initial, ought not to yell for the G's, and every Tadpole for
the T's ; but it was eventually decided that each should yell
'on his own hook/ and the effect was certainly far more
diverting.

The first four men of the A to M went out for two runs
between them, and Stephen and Bramble sat in gloomy
despair. The next man in knocked down his wicket before
he had played a single ball. It was frightful, and the jeers
of the Z's were hateful to hear.

But Stephen brightened as he perceived that the next
batsman was his brother. ' Now they'll pick up ! ' said he.

' No they won't ! Greenfield senior skies his balls too
much for my taste,' cheeringly replied the small Bramble.

But Stephen was right. For the first time that afternoon
the. A's made a stand. Oliver's partner at the wickets was
Callonby, of the Sixth, a steady, plodding player, who
hardly ever hit out, and got all his runs (if he got any) from
the slips. This afternoon he hardly scored at all, but kept
his wicket carefully while Oliver did the hitting.

Things were looking up. The telegraph went up from 2
to 20. Wraysford, who had hitherto been bowling with
Ricketts against his friend, gave up the ball to Raikes, and
the field generally woke up to the importance of getting rid
of this daring player.

Stephen's throat was too hoarse to roar any more, so he
resigned that duty to Bramble, and looked on in delighted
silence. The score crept up, till suddenly Callonby tipped
a ball into coverslip's hand and was caught, to the great
delight of the Z's, who guessed that, once a separation had
been effected, the survivor would soon be disposed of.

The next man in was Loman. He was better as a bowler
than a batsman ; but he followed Callonby's tactics and
played a steady block, leaving the boy he had struck
yesterday to do the hitting.

Oliver was certainly playing in fine form, and for a

moment his class-fellows forgot their resentment against

82 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

him in applauding his play. The score was at 35, and the
new coalition promised to be as formidable as the last, when
Oliver cut a ball past point.

' Run ! no ! yes, run ! ' he shouted. Loman started, then
hesitated, then started again — but it was too late. Before
he could get across, the ball was up and he was run out.
He was furious, and it certainly was hard lines for him,
although there would have been time enough for the run
had he not pulled up in the middle. Forgetful of all the
rules of cricket, he turned round to Oliver and shouted,
1 You are a fool ! ' as he left the wicket.

Stephen luckily was too much engrossed in watching the
telegraph to hear or notice this remark ; which, however,
was not lost on the Fifth generally, who experienced a
return of their former discontent when they observed that
Oliver (though he must have heard it) took not the slightest
notice of the offensive expression.

The match passed off without further incident. The Z's
won in the end by two wickets, after a closer match than
it had promised to be at first, and Stephen was comforted
for the reverse by feeling sure that his brother at any rate
had played his best, and would certainly get his place in
the School Eleven.

(8 3 )

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CHAPTER IX.

A ROD IN PICKLE.

OMAN, who had arrived at the same conclusion
respecting Oliver's bravery as the majority in the
Fifth, did not allow his conscience to trouble him as to his
share of the morning's business. He never had liked
Oliver, and lately especially he had come to dislike him.
He was therefore glad to have made him smart ; and now,

84 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST D0M1NICS.

since the blunder in the cricket match, he felt greatly
inclined to repeat the blow, particularly as there did not
seem much to fear if he did so.

He was quick, too, to see that Oliver had lost favour
with his comrades, and had no hesitation in availing
himself of every opportunity of widening the breach. He
affected to be sorry for the poor fellow, and to feel that he
had been too hard on him, and so on, in a manner which,
while it offended the Fifth, as applied to one of their set,
exasperated them all the more against Oliver. And so
matters went on, getting more and more unsatisfactory.

Loman, however, had other things to think of than his
rival's cowardice, and foremost among these was his new
fishing-rod — or rather, the rod which he coveted for his
own. Until the day after the Alphabet Match he had not
even had time to examine his treasure. Three pounds ten
was an appalling figure to pay for a rod; 'But then,'
thought Loman, 'if it's really a good one, and worth half
as much again, it would be a pity to miss such a bargain ; *
and every one knew the Crippses, father and son, were
authorities on all matters pertaining to the piscatorial art.
Loman, too, was never badly off for pocket-money, and
could easily raise the amount, he felt sure, when he repre-
sented the case at home. So he took the rod out of its
canvas bag, and began to put it together.

Now, a boy's study is hardly the place in which to flourish
a fishing-rod, and Loman found that with the butt down in
one bottom corner of the room, the top joint would have
to be put on up in the opposite top corner. When this
complicated operation was over, there was no room to move
it from its position, still less to judge of its weight and
spring, or attach the winch and line. Happy thought ! the
window ! He would have any amount of scope there. So,
taking it to pieces, and putting it together again in this new
direction, he had the satisfaction of testing it at its full length.
He was pleased with the rod, on the whole. He attached the

A ROD IN PICKLE. 85

line, with a fly at the end, in order to give it a thorough trial,
and gave a scientific ' cast ' into an imaginary pool. It was a
splendid rod, just right for him ; how he wished he w T as up
above Gusset Weir at that moment ! Why, he could —
Here he attempted to draw up the rod. There was an

ugly tug and a crack as he did so, and he found, to his
disgust, that the hook, having nothing else to catch, had
caught the ivy on the wall, and, what was worse, that the
top joint of the rod had either snapped or cracked in its
inability to bring this weighty catch to shore. It was a
long time before Loman was able to disengage his line, and
bring the rod in again at the window. The top joint was
cracked. It looked all right as he held it, but when he tried to
bend it it had lost its spring, and the crack showed only too
plainly. Another misfortune still was in store. The reel
in winding up suddenly stuck. Loman, fancying it had
only caught temporarily, tried to force it, and in so doing
the spring broke, and the handle turned uselessly round
and round in his hand. This was a streak of bad luck, and
no mistake ! The rod was not his, and what was worse, it
was (so Cripps said) a rod of extraordinary excellence and
value. Loman had his doubts now about this. A first-rate
top-piece would bend nearly double and then not break,
and a reel that broke at the least pressure could hardly be
of the best kind. Still, Cripps thought a lot of it, and
Loman had undoubtedly himself alone to blame for the
accidents which had occurred. As it was, the rod was now
useless. He knew there was no place in Maltby where he
could get it repaired, and it was hardly to be expected that
Cripps would take it back.

What was to be done ? Either he must pay ^£3 io,s\ for
a rod of no value, or —

He slowly took the rod to pieces and put it back into the
canvas bag. The top joint after all did not look amiss ;
and, yes, there was a little bit of elasticity in it. Perhaps
the crack was only his fancy ; or perhaps the crack was

86 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

there when he got it. As to the reel, it looked as if it
ought to work, and perhaps it would if he only knew the
way. Ah ! suppose he just sent the rod back to Cripps
with a message that he found he did not require it? He
would not say he had not used it, but if Cripps chose to
imagine he received it back just as he sent it, well,
what harm ? Cripps would be sure to sell it to some one
else, or else put it by (he had said he possessed a rod of his
own). If he, Loman, had felt quite certain that he had
damaged the rod himself, of course he would not think of
such a thing ; but he was not at all certain the thing was not
defective to begin with. In any case it was an inferior rod

■that he had no doubt about — and Cripps was not acting
honestly by trying to pass it off on him as one of the best
make. Yes, it would serve Cripps right, and be a lesson to
him, and he was sure, yes, quite sure now, it had been
damaged to begin with.

And so the boy argued with himself and coquetted with
the tempter. Before the afternoon was over he felt (as he
imagined) quite comfortable in his own mind over the
affair. The rod was tied up again in its bag exactly as it
had been before, and only wanted an opportunity to be
returned to Mr. Cripps.

After that Loman settled down to an evening's study.
But things were against him again. Comfortable as his
conscience was, that top joint would not let him alone. It
seemed to get into his hand in place of the pen, and to
point out the words in the lexicon in place of his finger.
He tried not to mind it, but it annoyed him, and, what was
worse, interfered with his work. So, shutting up his books,
and imagining a change of air might be beneficial, he went
off to Callonby's study, there to gossip for an hour or two,
and finally rid himself of his tormentor.

Stephen, meanwhile, had had Mr. Cripps on his mind
too, for that afternoon his bat had come home. It was
addressed to 'Mr. Greenfield, St. Dominic's/ and of course

cr

A ROD IN PICKLE. 87

taken to Oliver, who wondered much to receive a small
size cricket-bat in a parcel. Master Paul, however, who
was in attendance, was able to clear up the mystery.

' Oh ! that's your young brother's, I expect ; he said he
had got a bat coming.'

' All I can say is, he must be more flush of cash than I
am, to go in for a thing like this. Send him here, Paul.'

So Paul vanished, and presently Stephen put in an
appearance, blushing, and anxious-lookin

' Is this yours ? ' asked the elder brother.

' Yes ; did Mr. Cripps send it ? '

' Mr. Cripps the lock-keeper ? '

' No, his son. He said he would get it for me. I say, is
that a good bat, Oliver? '

'Nothing out of the way. But, I say, young 'un, how
much have you given for it ? '

( Not anything yet. Mr. Cripps said I could pay in

June, when I get my next pocket-money.'

' What on earth has he to do with when you get your
pocket-money ? ' demanded Oliver. ' Who is this young
Cripps ? He's a cad, isn't he ? '

* He seemed a very nice man/ said Stephen.

'Well, look here ! the less you have to do with men like
him the better. What is the price of the bat ? '

'I don't know; it's one Mr. Cripps had himself when he
was a boy. He says it's a beauty ! I say, it looks as good
as new, Oliver.'

' You young mufT! ' said the elder brother ; i I expect the
fellow's swindling you. Find out what he wants for it at
once, and pay him ; I'm not going to let you run into debt'

* But I can't; I've only two shillings left/ said Stephen,

dejectedly.

' Why, whatever have you done with the five shillings
you had k,;t vyeek? '

Stephen blushed, and then faltered, ' I spent sixpence on
stamps and sixpence on — on brandy-balls ! '

88 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' I thought so. And what did you do with the rest ? '
* Oh ! I — I — that is — I — gave them away.'
' Gave them away ! Who to — to Bramble ? '
' No,' said Stephen, laughing at the idea ; ' I gave them to
a poor old man ! '

r

' Where ? — when ? Upon my word, Stephen, you are a
jackass — who to ? '

And then Stephen confessed, and the elder brother rated
him soundly for his folly, till the little fellow felt quite
miserable and ashamed of himself. In the end, Oliver
insisted on Stephen finding out at once what the price of
the bat was, and promised he would lend his brother the
money for it. In return for this, Stephen promised to
make no more purchases of this kind without first consult-
ing Oliver, and at this juncture Wraysford turned up, and
Stephen beat a retreat with his bat over his shoulder.

The two friends had not been alone together since the fracas
in the Fifth two days before, and both now appeared glad of
an opportunity of talking over that and subsequent events.

'I suppose you know a lot of the fellows are very sore at
you for not thrashing Loman ? ' said Wraysford.

*I guessed they would be. Are you riled, too, Wray?'

' Not I ! I know what / should have done myself, but
I suppose you know* your own business best.'

'I was greatly tempted to let out,' said Oliver, 'but the
fact is — I know you'll jeer, Wray — the fact is, I've been
trying feebly to turn over a new leaf this term.*

Wraysford said * Oh ! ' and looked uncomfortable.

'And one of the things I wanted to keep out of was
losing my temper, which you know is not a good one.'

' Not at all,' said Wraysford, meaning quite the opposite
to what he said.

'Well, if you'll believe me, I've lost my temper oftener
in trying to keep this resolution than I ever remember to
have done before. But on Friday it came over me just as
I was going to thrash Loman. That's why I didn't.'

A ROD IN PICKLE. 89

Wraysford looked greatly relieved when this confession
was over. 'You are a rum fellow, Noll/ said he, after a
pause, 'and of course it is all right; but the fellows don't
know your reason, and think you showed the white feather.'

' Let them think ! ' shouted Oliver, in a voice so loud and
angry that Master Paul came to the door and asked what
he wanted.

' What do I care what they think ? ' continued Oliver,
forgetting all about his temper ; ' they can think what they
like, but they had better let me alone. I'd like to knock
all their heads together ! so I would ! '

'Steady, old man!' said Wraysford, good-humouredly \
' I quite agree with you. But I say, Noll, I think it's a
pity you don't put yourself right with them and the school
generally, somehow. Everybody heard Loman call you a
fool yesterday, and you know our fellows are so clannish
that they think, for the credit of the Fifth, something ought

to be done.'

' Let them send Braddy to thrash him, then ; I don't
intend to fight to please them I '

' Oh ! that's all right. And if they all knew what you've
told me they would understand it ; but as it is, they don't. 1

'They'll find out some day, most likely,' growled Oliver;
' I'm not going to bother any more about it. I say, Wray,
do you know anything of Cripps's son ? '

' Yes. Don't you know he keeps a dirty public-house in
Maltby ? — a regular cad, they say. The fishing-fellows have
seen him up at the Weir now and then.'

' 1 don't know how he came across him, but my young
brother has just been buying a bat from him, and I don't
much fancy it.'

' No, the youngster won't get any good w r ith that fellow ;
you had better tell him,' said Wraysford.

'So I have, and he won't do it again,'

Shortly after this Pembury hobbled in on his way to bed.

' You're a pretty fellow,' said he to Oliver; 'not one of

90 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

our fellows cares a rush about the Dominican since you
made vourself into the latest sensation.'

1 Oh, don't let us have that up again,' implored Oliver.

' All very well, but what is to become of the Dominican ? '

' Oh, have a special extra number about me. Call me a
coward, and a fool, and a Tadpole, any mortal thing you
like, only shut up about the affair now ! '

Pembury looked concerned.

'Allow me to feel your pulse,' said he to Oliver.

' Feel away,' said Oliver, glad of any diversion.

' Hum ! As I feared — feverish. Oliver, my boy, you
are not well. Wandering a bit in your mind, too ; get to
bed. Be better soon. Able to talk like an ordinary rational
animal then, and not like an animated tom-cat. Good-bye ! '

And so saying he departed, leaving the friends too much
amused to be angry at his rudeness.

The two friends did a steady evening's work after this,
and the thought of the Nightingale Scholarship drove away
for the time all less pleasant recollections.

They slept, after it all, far more soundly than Loman,
whose dreams were disturbed by that everlasting top joint
all the night long.

The reader will no doubt have already decided in his
own mind whether Oliver Greenfield did rightly or wrongly
in putting his hands into his pockets instead of using them
to knock down Loman. It certainly did not seem to have
done him much good at the time. He had lost the esteem
of his comrades, he had lost the very temper he had been
trying to keep — twenty times since the event — and no one
gave him credit for anything but ' the better part of valour '
in the whole affair.

And yet that one effort of self-restraint was not altogether
an unmanly act. At least, so thought Wraysford that night,
as he lay meditating upon his friend's troubles, and found
himself liking him none the less for this latest singular
piece of eccentricity.

/

J

\

CHAPTER X.

THE FOURTH JUNIOR AT HOME.

TEPHEN, before he had been a fortnight in the school,
found himself very much at home at St. Dominic's.
He was not one of those exuberant, irrepressible boys who
take their class-fellows by storm, and rise to the top of the
tree almost as soon as they touch the bottom. Stephen, as
the reader knows, was not a very clever boy, or a very
dashing boy, and yet he somehow managed to get his foot-

92 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

ing among his comrades in the Fourth Junior, and particularly
among his fellow-Guinea-pigs.

He had fought Master Bramble six times in three days
during his second week, and was engaged to fight him again
every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the term. He
had also taken the chair at one indignation meeting against
the monitors, and spoken in favour of a resolution at
another. He had distributed brandy-balls in a most hand-
some manner to his particular adherents, and he had been
the means of carrying away no less than two blankets from
the next dormitory. This was pretty good for a fortnight.
Add to this that he had remained steadily at the bottom of
his class during the entire period, and that once he had
received an i impot ' (or imposition) from Mr. Rastle, and
it will easily be understood that he soon gained favour
among his fellows.

This last cause of celebrity, however, was one which did
not please Stephen. He had come to St. Dominic's with a
great quantity of good resolutions, the chief of which was
that he would work hard and keep out of mischief, and it
grieved him much to find that in neither aim was he
succeeding. +

The first evening or two he had worked very diligently at
preparation. He had taken pains with his fractions, and
looked out every word in his Caesar. He had got Oliver to
look over his French, and Loman had volunteered to correct
the spelling of his ' theme } ; and yet he stuck at the bottom
of the class. Other boys went up and down. Some openly
boasted that they had had their lessons done for them, and
others that they had not done them at all. A merry time
they had of it j but Stephen, down at the bottom, was in
dismal dumps. He could not get up, and he could not get
down, and all his honest hard work went for nothing.

And so, not content to give that system a longer trial, he
grew more lax in his work. He filched the answers to his
sums out of the 'Key,' and copied his Csesar out of the

THE FO UR TH J UN I OR A T HOME. 93

' crib.' It was much easier, and the result was the same.
He did not get up, and he could not get down.

Oliver catechised him now and then as to his progress,
and received vague answers in reply, and Loman never
remembered a fag that pestered him less with lessons.
Stephen was, in fact, settling down into the slough of idle-
ness, and would have become an accomplished dunce in
time, had not Mr. Rastle come to the rescue. That gentleman
caught the new boy in an idle mood, wandering aimlessly
down the passage one afternoon.

'Ah, Greenfield, is that you? Nothing to do, eh ? Come
and have tea with me, will you, in my room ? '

Stephen, who had bounded as if shot on hearing the
master's unexpected voice behind him, turned round and
blushed very red, and said ' Thank you/ and then looked
like a criminal just summoned to the gallows.

'That's right, come along ; ' and the master took the lad
by the arm and marched him off to his room.

Here the sight of muffins and red-currant jam, in addition
to the ordinary attractions of a tea-table, somewhat revived
Stephen's drooping spirits.

' Make yourself comfortable, my boy, while the tea is
brewing,' said Mr. Rastle, cheerily. ' Have you been
playing any cricket since you came ? '

' Only a little, sir,' said Stephen.

' Well, if you only turn out as good a bat as your brother
how well he played in the Alphabet Match ! '

Stephen was reviving fast now, and embarked on a lively
chat about his favourite sport, by the end of which the tea
was brewed, and he and Mr. Rastle sitting ' cheek by jowl '
at the table, with the muffins and jam between them.

Presently Mr. Rastle steered the talk round to Stephen's
home, a topic even more delightful than cricket. The boy
launched out into a full account of the old house and his
mother, till the tears very nearly stood in his eyes and the
muffins very nearly stuck in his throat. Mr. Rastle listened

94 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

to it all with a sympathetic smile, throwing in questions now
and then which it charmed the boy to answer.

1 And how do you like St. Dominic's ?' presently inquired
the master. ' I suppose you've made plenty of friends by
this time?'

c Oh yes, sir. It's not as slow as it was at first.'

' That's right. You'll soon get to feel at home. And
how do you think you are getting on in class ? '

Stephen was astonished at this question. If any one
knew how he was getting on in class Mr. Rastle did, and,
alas ! Mr. Rastle must know well enough that Stephen was
getting on badly. ■- • > -t

* Not very well, I'm afraid, sir, thank you,' replied the boy,
not feeling exactly comfortable.

* Not ? That's a pity. Are the lessons too hard for you ? '
kindly inquired Mr. Rastle.

'No, I don't think so — that is— no, they're not, sir.'

' Ah, your Latin exercise I thought was very fair in parts
to-day.'

Stephen stared at his master, and the master looked very
pleasantly at Stephen.

' I copied it off Raddleston,' said the boy, in a trembling
voice, and mentally resigning himself to his fate.

'Ah!' said Mr. Rastle, laughing; 'it's a funny thing,
now, Greenfield, I knew that myself. No two boys could
possibly have translated "nobody" into " nullus corpus 11
without making common cause ! '

Stephen was desperately perplexed. He had expected a
regular row on the head of his confession, and here was his
master cracking jokes about the affair !

( I'm very sorry I did it. I won't do it again,' said he.

' That's right, my boy ; Raddleston isn't infallible.
Much better do it yourself. I venture to say, now, you
can tell me what the Latin for " nobody " is without a
dictionary.'

1 Nemo J promptly replied Stephen.

THE FOURTH JUNIOR AT HOME. 95

' Of course ! and therefore if you had done the exercise
yourself you wouldn't have made that horrid — that fearful
mistake ! '

Stephen said, ' Yes, sir/ and meditated.
'Come now,' said Mr. Rastle, cheerily, 'I'm not going to
scold you. But if you take my advice you will try and do
the next exercise by yourself. Of course you can't expect
to be perfect all at once, but if you always copy off
Raddleston, do you see, you'll never get on at all/
' I'll try, sir/ said Stephen, meaning what he said.
( I know you will, my boy. It's not easy work to begin
with, but it's easier far in the long run. Try, and if you
have difficulties, as you are sure to have, come to me. I'm
always here in the evenings, and we'll hammer it out between
us. School will not be without its temptations, and you
will find it hard always to do your duty. Yet you have, I
hope, learnt the power of prayer ; and surely the Saviour is
able not only to forgive us our sins, but also to keep us
from falling. At school, my boy, as elsewhere, it is a safe
rule, whenever one is in doubt, to avoid everything, no mat-
ter who may be the tempter, of which one cannot fearlessly
speak to one's father or mother, and above all to our
Heavenly Father. Don't be afraid of Him— He will always
be ready to help you and to guide you with His Holy Spirit.
Have another cup of tea ? '

This little talk, much as he missed at the time its deeper
meaning, saved Stephen from becoming a dunce. He still
blundered and boggled over his lessons, and still kept pretty
near to the bottom form in his class, but he felt that his
master had an interest in him, and that acted like magic to
his soul. He declined . Master Raddleston's professional
assistance for the future, and did the best he could by himself.
He now and then, though hesitatingly, availed himself of
Mr. Rastle's offer, and took his difficulties to head-quarters ;
and he always, when he did so, found the master ready and
glad to help, and not only that, but to explain as he went

96 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM I NIC S.

along, and clear the way of future obstacles of the same
sort.

And so things looked up with Stephen. He wrote jubi-
lant letters home ; he experienced all the joys of an easy
conscience, and he felt that he had a friend at court.

But as long as he was a member of the honourable
fraternity of Guinea-pigs, Stephen Greenfield was not likely
to be dull at St. Dominic's.

The politics of the lower school were rather intricate.
The Guinea-pigs were not exactly the enemies of the Tad-
poles, but the rivals. They were always jangling among
themselves, it was true ; and when Stephen, for the second
time in one week, had hit Bramble in the eye, there was such
jubilation among the Guinea-pigs that any one might have
supposed the two clans were at daggers drawn. But it was
not so — at least, not always — for though they fell out among
themselves, they united their forces against the common
enemy — the monitors !

Monitors, in the opinion of these young republicans, were
an invention of the Evil One, invented for the sole pur-
pose of interfering with them. But for the monitors they
could carry out their long-cherished scheme of a pitched
battle on the big staircase, for asserting their right to go
down the left side, when they chose, and up on the right.
As it was, the monitors insisted that they should go up on
the left and come down on the right. It was intolerable
tyranny ! And but for the monitors their comb-and-paper

musical society might give daily recitals in the top corridor
and so delight all St. Dominic's. What right had the moni-
tors to forbid the performance and confiscate the combs?
Was it to be endured ? And but for the monitors, once
more, they might perfect themselves in the art of pea-shoot-
ing. Was such a thing ever heard of, as that fellows should
be compelled to shoot peas* at the wall in the privacy of
their own studies, instead of at one another in the passages ?
It was a shame — it was a scandal — it was a crime !

THE FOURTH JUNIOR AT HOME. 97

On burning questions such as these, Guinea-pigs and

Tadpoles sunk all petty differences, and thought and felt

as one man ; and not the least ardent among them was (

Stephen.

' Come on, quick ! Greenfield junior/ squeaked the voice

of Bramble, one afternoon, as he and Stephen met on the

staircase.

Stephen had fought Bramble yesterday at four o'clock,

and was to fight him again to-morrow at half-past twelve,

but at the call of common danger he forgot the feud and

tore up the stairs, two steps at a time, beside his chronic

enemy.

* What's the row ? ' he gasped, as they flew along.

'Row? Why, what do you think? Young Bellerby has
been doctored for tying a string across the passage ! '

' Had up before the Doctor ? My eye, Bramble ! '

' It is your eye indeed ! One of the monitors tripped
over it, and got in a rage, and there's Bellerby now catching
it in the Black Hole. Come on to the meeting ; quick \ '

The two rushed on, joined by one and another of their
fellows who had heard the terrible news. The party rushed
pellmell into the Fourth Junior class-room, where were
already assembled a score or more youths, shouting, and
stamping, and howling like madmen. At the sight of
Bramble, the acknowledged leader of all malcontents, they
quieted down for a moment to hear what he had to say.

( Here's a go ! ' classically began that hero.

At this the clamour, swelled twofold by the new additions,
rose louder than ever. It was a go !

' I wish it had been me ! ' again yelled Bramble ; ' TV have
let them know.'

Once more the shouts rose high and loud in approval of
this noble sentiment.

' Td have kicked their legs ! ' once more howled Bramble,
as soon as he could make himself heard.

4 So would we ; kicked their leers ! '

98 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' They ought to be hanged ! ' screamed Bramble.

' Fll not fag any more for Wren ! ' bellowed Bramble.

'I'll not fag any 1 more for Greenfield senior!' thundered
Paul.

' I'll not fag any more for Loman ! ' shrieked Stephen.

' Why don't some of you put poison in their teas ? ' cried
one.

' Or blow them up when they're in bed with gun-
powder ? '

' Or flay them alive ? '

' Or boil them in tar ? '

( Or throw them into the lions' den ? '

'Those who say we won't stand it any longer,' shouted
Bramble, jumping up on to a form, ' hold up your hands ! '

A perfect forest of inky hands arose, and a shout with them

that almost shook the ceiling.

At that moment the door opened, and Wren appeared.
The effect was magical ; every one became suddenly quiet,
and looked another way.

' The next time there's a noise like that,' said the moni-
tor, 'the whole class will be detained one hour,' and, so
saying, departed.

After that the indignation meeting was kept up in whispers.
Now and then the feelings of the assembly broke out into
words, but the noise was instantly checked.

'If young Bellerby has been flogged,' said Bramble, in a
most sepulchral undertone, ' I've a good mind to fight every
one of them ! '

' Yes, every one of them,' whispered the multitude.

' They're all as bad as each other ! ' gasped Bramble.

' We'll let them know,' muttered the audience.

'I'll tell you what I've a good mind to— to— ur — ur — I've
a good mind to — ugh ! '

Again the door opened. This time it was Callonby.

' Where's young Raddleston ? — What are you young
beggars up to ? — is Raddleston here ? *

THE FOURTH JUNIOR AT HOME. 99

'Yes/ mildly answered the voice of Master Raddleston,
who a moment ago had nearly broken a blood-vessel in his
endeavours to scream in a whisper.

' Come here, then.'

The fag meekly obeyed.

1 Oh, and Greenfield junior/ said Callonby, as he was
turning to depart, ' Loman wants to know when you are
going to get his tea; you're to go at once, he says.'

Stephen obeyed, and was very humble in explaining to
Loman that he had forgotten (which was the case) the time.
The meeting in the Fourth class-room lasted most of the
afternoon ; but as oratory in whispers is tedious, and constant
repetition of the same sentiments, however patriotic, is
monotonous, it flagged considerably in spirit towards the
end, and degenerated into one of the usual wrangles between
Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles, in the midst of which Master
Bramble left the chair, and went off in the meekest manner

possible to get Wren to help him with his sums for next
day.

Stephen meanwhile was engaged in doing a little piece of
business for Loman, of which more must be said in a
following chapter.

( ico )

CHAPTER XL

IN THE TOILS.

HE afternoon of the famous 'indignation meeting 7 in
the Fourth Junior was the afternoon of the week
which Mr. Cripps the younger, putting aside for a season the
anxieties and responsibilities of his 'public' duties in Maltby,
usually devoted to the pursuit of the ' gentle craft,' at his
worthy father's cottage by Gusset Weir. Loman, who was
aware of this circumstance, and on whose sj^irit that restless
top joint had continued to prey ever since the evening of the
misadventure a week ago, determined to avail himself of the
opportunity of returning the unlucky fishing-rod into the
hands from which he had received it.

He therefore instructed Stephen to take it up to the lock-
house with a note to the effect that having changed his
mind in the matter since speaking to Cripps, he found he
should not require the rod, and therefore returned it, with
many thanks for Mr. Cripps's trouble.

Stephen, little suspecting the questionable nature of his
errand, undertook the commission, and duly delivered both

rod and letter into the hands of Mr. Cripps, who greatly
astonished him by swearing very violently at the contents of
the letter. ' Well/ said he, when he had exhausted his vo-
cabulary (not a small one) of expletives — ' well, of all the
grinning jackanapeses, this is the coolest go ! Do you take
me for a fool ? '

IN THE TOILS. 101

Stephen, to whom this question appeared to be directly
applied, disclaimed any idea of the kind, and added,

( I don't know what you mean.'

' Don't you, my young master ? All right ! Tell Mr.
Loman I'll wait upon him one fine day, see if I don't !
Here's me, given up a whole blessed day to serve him, and
a pot of money out of my pocket, and here he goes ! not
a penny for my pains ! Chucks the thing back on my 'ands

as cool as a coocumber, all because he's changed his mind.
I'll let him have a bit of my mind, tell him, Mr. Gentleman
Schoolboy, see if I don't. I ain't a-going to be robbed, no !
not by all the blessed monkeys that ever wrote on slates !
I'll wait upon him, see if I don't ! '

Stephen, to whom the whole of this oration, which was
garnished with words that we can hardly set down in print,
or degrade ourselves by suggesting, was about as intelligible
as if it had been Hebrew, thought it better to make no reply,
and sorrowed inwardly to find that such a nice man as Mr.
Cripps should possess so short a temper. But the landlord
of the Cockchafer soon recovered from his temporary
annoyance, and even proceeded to apologise to Stephen for
the warmth of his language.

* You'll excuse me, young gentleman/ said be, 'but I'm
a plain-spoken man, and I was — there, I won't deny it — I
was a bit put out about this here rod first go off. You'll
excuse me — of course I don't mean no offence to you or
Mister Loman neither, who's one of the nicest young gentle-
men I ever met. Of course if you'd a* paid seventy bob
out of your own pocket it would give you a turn ; leastways,
if you was a struggling, /zonest working man, like me.'

'That's it/ snivelled, old Mr. Cripps, who had entered
during this last speech ; ' that's it, Benny, my boy. JTontst
Partisans, that's what we is, who knows what it are to be in
want of a shillin' to buy a clo' or two for the little childer.'

What particular little ' childer ' Mr. Cripps senior and his
son were specially interested in no one knew, for neither of

102 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

them was blessed with any. However, it was one of old Mr.
Cripps's heart-moving phrases, and no one was rude enough
to ask questions.

Stephen did not, on the present occasion, feel moved to
respond to the old man's lament, and Cripps junior, with
more adroitness than filial affection, hustled the old gentle-
man out of the door.

' Never mind him,' said he to Stephen. ' He's a silly old
man, and always pretends he's starvin'. If you believe me,
he's a thousand pounds stowed away somewheres. I on'y
wish,' added he, with a sigh, ' he'd give me a taste of it, for
its 'ard, up-'ill work makin' ends meet, particular when a
man's deceived by parties. No matter. I'll pull through ;
you see ! '

Stephen once more did not feel called upon to pursue
this line of conversation, and therefore changed the
subject

' Oh, Mr. Cripps, how much is that bat ? '

' Bat ! Bless me if I hadn't nearly forgot all about it.
Ain't it a beauty, now ? '

'Yes, pretty well,' said Stephen, whose friends had one
and all abused the bat, and who was himself a little disap-
pointed in his expectations.

' Pretty well ! I like that. You must be a funny cricketer,
young gentleman, to call that bat only pretty well. I
suppose you want me to take that back, too ? ' and here Mr.
Cripps looked very fierce.

' Oh, no,' said Stephen, hurriedly. ' I only want to know
what I am to pay for it.'

1 Oh, come now, we needn't mind about that. That'll
keep, you know. As if I wanted the money. Ha, ha ! '

Even a green boy like Stephen could not fail to wonder
why, if Mr. Cripps was as hard up as he had just described
himself, he should now be so anxious to represent himself
as not in want of money.

' Please, I want to know the price.'

IN THE TOILS. 103

'As if I was a-going to name prices to a young gentleman
like you ! Please yourself about it. I shall not be disap-
pointed if you gives me only eighteenpence, and if you thinks
twelve bob is handsome, well, let it be. / can struggle on
somehow/

This was uncomfortable for Stephen, who, too green, for-
tunately, to comprehend the drift of Mr. Cripps's gentle
hints, again asked that he would name a price.

This time Mr. Cripps answered more precisely.

'Well, that there bat is worth a guinea, if you want to
know, but I'll say a sov. for cash down/

Stephen whistled a long-drawn whistle of dismay.

'A sovereign ! I can't pay all that ! I thought it would
be about seven shillings ! '

' Did you ? You may think what you like, but that's my
price, and you are lucky to get it at that.'

4 1 shall have to send it back. I can't afford so much,'
said Stephen, despondingly.

'Not if I know it ! I'll have none of your second-hand
bats, if I know it. Come, young gentleman, I may be a
poor man, but I'm not a fool, and you'll find it out if I've
any of youi nonsense. Do you suppose I've nothing to do
but wait on jackanapses like you and your mates? No
error ! There you are. That'll do, and if you don't like it
—well, the governor shall know about it ! '

Stephen was dreadfully uncomfortable. Though, to his
knowledge, he had done nothing wrong, he felt terribly
guilty at the bare notion of the Doctor being informed of his
transactions with Mr. Cripps, besides greatly in awe of the
vague threats held out by that gentleman. He did not
venture on further argument, but, bidding a hasty farewell,
returned as fast as he could to St. Dominic's, wondering
whatever Oliver would say, and sorely repenting the day
when first he was tempted to think of the unlucky bat.

He made a clean breast of it to his brother that evening,
who, of course, called him an ass, and everything else com-

IO+ THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC 'S.

plimentary, and was deservedly angry. However, Stephen
had reason to consider himself lucky to possess an elder
brother at the school who had a little more shrewdness than
himself. Oliver was determined the debt should be paid at
once, without even waiting to write home, and by borrowing
ten shillings from Wraysford, and adding to it the residue of
his own pocket-money, the sovereign was raised and dis-
patched that very night to Mr. Cripps ; after which Oliver
commanded his brother to sit down and write a full con-
fession of his folly home, and ask for the money, promising
never to make such a fool of himself again. This task the
small boy, with much shame and trembling at heart, accom-
plished ; and in due time an answer came from his mother
which not only relieved his mind but paid off his debts to
Oliver and Wraysford, and once for all closed the business
of the treble-cane splice bat.

It would have been well for Loman if he could have got
out of his difficulties as easily and as satisfactorily.

Ever since he had gathered from Stephen Mr. Cripps's
wrath on receiving the returned rod, he had been haunted
by a dread lest the landlord of the Cockchafer should march
up to St. Dominic's, and possibly make an exposure of the
unhappy business before the Doctor and the whole school.
He therefore, after long hesitation and misgiving, determined
himself to call at the Cockchafer, and try in some way to
settle matters. One thing reassured him. If Cripps had
discovered the crack or the fracture in the rod, he would
have heard of it long before now ; and if he had not, then
the longer the time the less chance was there of the damage
being laid at his door. So he let three weeks elapse, and
then went to Maltby. The Cockchafer was a small, unpre-
tentious tavern, frequented chiefly by carriers and tradesmen,
and, I regret to say, not wholly unknown to some of the
boys of St. Dominic's, who were foolish enough to persuade
themselves that skittles, and billiards, and beer were luxuries
worth the risk incurred by breaking one of the rules of the

JN THE TOILS > 105

school. No boy was permitted to enter any place of re-
freshment except a confectioner's in Maltby under the
penalty of a severe punishment, which might, in a bad case,
mean expulsion. Loman, therefore, a monitor and a Sixth

Form boy, had to take more than ordinary precautions to
reach the Cockchafer unobserved, which he succeeded in
doing, and to his satisfaction — as well as to his trepidation
— found Mr. Cripps the younger at home.

'Ho, ho ! my young shaver,' was that worthy's greeting,
'here you are at last.'

This was not encouraging to begin with. It sounded very
much as if Mr. Cripps had been looking forward to this
visit. However, Loman put as bold a face as he could on

to it, and replied,

* Hullo, Cripps, how are you ? It's a long time since I

saw you ; jolly day, isn't it ? '

' Jolly ! ' replied Mr. Cripps, looking very gloomy, and
drawing a glass of beer for the young gentleman before he
ordered it. Loman did not like it at all. There was some-
thing about Cripps's manner that made him feel very un-
comfortable.

' Oh, Cripps,' he presently began, in as off-hand a manner
as he could assume under the depressing circumstances —
' Oh, Cripps, about that rod, by the way. I hope you didn't
mind my sending it back. The fact is ' (and here followed
a lie which till that moment had not been in the speaker's
mind to tell) — ' the fact is, I find I'm to get a present of a
rod this summer at home, or else of course I would have
kept it.'

Mr. Cripps said nothing, but began polishing up a pewter
pot with a napkin.

* I hope you got it back all right,' continued Loman, who
felt as if he must say something. < They are such fragile
things, you know. I thought I'd just leave it in the bag and
not touch it, but send it straight back, for fear it should be
damaged.'

io6 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

■

There was a queer smile about Mr. Cripps's mouth as he
asked, ' Then you didn't have a look at it even ? '

' Well, no, I thought I would — I thought I wouldn't run
any risk.'

Loman was amazed at himself. He had suddenly made

r

up his mind to tell one lie, but here they were following one
after another, as if he had told nothing but lies all his life !
Alas, there was no drawing back either !

' The fact is/ he began again, speaking for the sake of
speaking, and not even knowing what he was going to say —
' the fact is — ' Here the street door opened, and there
entered hurriedly a boy whom Loman, to his confusion and
consternation, recognised as Simon of the Fifth, the author
of the ' Love Ballad/ What could the monitor say for himself
to explain his presence in this prohibited house ?

1 Hullo, Loman, I say, is that you ? ' remarked Simon.

' Oh, Simon, how are you ? ' faltered the wretched Loman ;

' I've just popped in to speak to Cripps about a fishing-rod.
You'd better not come in ; you might get into trouble.'

( Oh, never mind. You won't tell of me, and I won't tell
of you. Glass of the usual, please, Cripps. I say, Loman,
was that the fishing-rod you were switching about out of
your window that afternoon three weeks ago ? '

Loman turned red and white by turns, and wished the
earth would swallow him ! And to think of this fellow, the
biggest donkey in St. Dominic's, blurting out the very thing
which of all things he had striven to keep concealed !

Mr. Cripps's mouth worked up into a still more ugly

smile.

* I was below in the garden, you know, and could not
make out what you were up to. You nearly had my eye
out with that hook. I say, what a smash you gave it when
it caught in the ivy. Was it broken right off, or only
cracked, eh ? Cripps will mend it for you, won't you,
Cripps ? '

Neither Mr. Cripps nor Loman spoke a word. The latter

IN THE TOILS. 107

saw that concealment was no longer possible ; and bitterly
he rued the day when first he heard the name of Cripps.

That worthy, seeing the game to have come beautifully
into his own hands, was not slow to take advantage of it.
He beckoned Loman into the inner parlour, whither the boy
tremblingly followed, leaving Simon to finish his glass of
' the usual ' undisturbed.

I need not repeat the painful conversation that ensued
between the sharper and the wretched boy. It was no use
for the latter to deny or explain. He was at the mercy of
the man, and poor mercy it was. Cripps, with many oaths

and threats, explained to Loman that he could, if he chose,
have him up before a magistrate for fraud, and that he
would do so for a very little. Loman might choose for
himself between a complete exposure, involving his disgrace
for life, or paying the price of the rod down and ^20
besides, and he might consider himself lucky more was not
demanded.

The boy, driven to desperation between terror and shame,
implored mercy, and protested with tears in his eyes that he
would do anything, if only Cripps did not expose him.

' You know what it is, then/ replied Cripps.

' But how am I to get the ^20 ? I daren't ask for it at
home, and there's no one here will lend it me. Oh, Cripps,
what shall I do ? ' and the boy actually caught Mr. Cripps's
hand in his own as he put the question.

* Well, look here/ said Mr. Cripps, unbending a little,
'that ^20 I must have, there's no mistake about it ; but I
don't want to be too hard on you, and I can put you up to
raising the wind.'

'Oh, can you? 'gasped Loman, eager to clutch at the
faintest straw of hope. ' I'll do anything.'

'Very good; then it's just this: I've just got a straight
tip about the Derby that I know for certain no one else has
got — that is, that Sir Patrick won't win, favourite and all as
he is. Now there's a friend of mine I can introduce you

10S THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

to, who's just wanting to put a twenty on the horse, if he
can find any one to take it. It wouldn't do for me to make
the wager, or he'd smell a rat ; but if you put your money
against the horse, you're bound to win, and all safe. What
do you say ? '

'I don't know anything about betting/ groaned Loman.
' Are you quite sure I'd win ? '

' Certain. If you lose Til only ask ;£io of you, there !
that's as good as giving you jT i \o myself on the horse, eh?'

' Well/ said Loman, * I suppose I must. Where is he ? '

' Wait here a minute, and I'll bring him round.'

Loman waited, racked by a sense of ignominy and terror.
Yet this seemed his only hope. Could he but get this ^20
and pay off Cripps he would be happy. Oh, how he
repented listening to that first temptation to deceive !

In due time Mr. Cripps returned with his friend, who was
very civil on hearing Loman's desire to bet against Sir
Patrick.

< Make it a ^50 note while you are about it/ said he.

1 No, ^20 is all I want to go for/ replied Loman.

4 Twenty then, all serene, sir/ said the gentleman, booking
the bet. * What'll you take to drink ? '

'Nothing, thank you/ said Loman, hurriedly rising to
leave.

' Good-day, sir/ said Cripps, holding out his hand.

Loman looked at the hand and then at Mr. Cripps's face.
There was the same ugly leer about the latter, into which a
spark of anger was infused as the boy still. held back from
the proffered hand.

With an inward groan Loman gave the hand a spiritless
grasp, and then hurried back miserable and conscience-
stricken to St. Dominic's.

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1 1 o THE FIFTH FORM AT ST D OMINICS.

class, in hopes of a fight. But in this they were not
successful. The Sixth chose to look upon this display of
feeling among their juniors as a temporary aberration of
mind, and were by no means to be tempted into hostilities.
They asserted their authority wherever they could enforce
it, and sacrificed it whenever it seemed more discreet to do
so. Only one thing evoked a temporary display of vexation
from them, and that was when Ricketts and Braddy appeared
one day, arm-in-arm, in the passages with tall hats on their
heads. Now, tall hats on week-days were the exclusive
privilege of the Sixth at St. Dominic's, and, worn by them
during school hours, served as the badge of monitorship.
This action on the part of the Fifth, therefore, was as good as
a usurpation of monitorial rights, and that the Sixth were not
disposed to stand. However, Raleigh, the captain, when
appealed to, pooh-poohed the matter. * Let them be,' said
he ; * what do you want to make a row about it for? . If the
boys do mistake them for monitors, so much the less row in
the passages.'

Raleigh was always a man of peace — though it was
rumoured he could, if he chose, thrash any two Dominicans
going — and the monitors were much disgusted to find that
he did not authorise them to interfere with the Fifth in the
matter. But the Fifth were interfered with in another
quarter, and in a way which caused them to drop their
chimney-pots completely. One afternoon the entire Fourth
Junior appeared in the corridors in their Sunday tiles ! In
their Sunday tiles they slid down the banisters ; in their
Sunday tiles they played leapfrog ; in their Sunday tiles they
executed a monster tug-of-war in the bottom corridor !
Stephen and Bramble fought their usual battle in top hats,
and Master Paul insisted on wearing the same decoration
while washing up Oliver's tea-things. It was a splendid hit,
and for once in a way Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles scored one,
for the Fifth appeared next day in their ordinary 'boilers,'
and the dignity of the monitors was vindicated.

THE 'DOMINICAN 1 AGAIN in

But the blood was up between Fifth and Sixth, and each
Form looked forward to the match, Sixth versus School, with
redoubled interest.

' Were not these boys fools ? ' some one asks.

To be sure they were, sir. But what of that ? they were
none the less boys, and most of them fine young fellows,
too, with all their nonsense.

However, as has been said, all this came out of the
circumstances which attended the bringing out of the first
number of the Dominican, and there seemed but a poor
look-out for No. 2, which was now nearly due, in con-
sequence.

4 What on earth am I to do ? ' asked Pembury of Tom
Senior one day ; ' I've not got a single contribution yet
There's you making out you're too busy, and Rick the same.
It's all humbug, I know ! What are you busy at I'd like to
know? I never saw you busy yet/

' Upon my word, old man,' said Tom, £ I'm awfully sorry,
but I've got a tremendous lot to do. I'm going to try for
the French prize ; lam, really.'

' And you'll get it, too ; rather ! Wasn't it you who
translated " I know the way to write " into "Je non le
chemin a writer" eh ? Oh, stick to French by all means,
Tom ; it's in your line ! But you might just as well write
for No. 2.'

' I really can't this time,' said Tom.

Ricketts had an excuse very similar. Bullinger had hurt his
foot, he said, and could not possibly write ; and Braddy had
begun to study fossils, he said, and was bound to devote all
his spare time to them. To all of whom Master Pembury
gave a piece of his mind.

' Wray, old man,' said he, that evening, * you and Noll
and I shall have to do the whole thing between us, that's
all about it.'

' Awfully sorry ! ' said Wraysford ; ' you'll have to let me
off this time. I'm working like nails for the Nightingale,'

H2 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

1 Bother the Nightingale, I say ! What is it to the
Dominican ? Come, I say, old man, that won't do ! you
aren't going to leave me in the lurch like all the rest ? '

But Wraysford was ; he would gladly have helped if he
could, but he really must not this time ; perhaps he would
for the next.

Oliver was as bad ; he declared the things he had written
before — even with Pembury's assistance — had taken him
such ages to do, that he wasn't going in for the next number.
He was very sorry to disappoint, and all that ; but if Tony
was in for a scholarship next Michaelmas he would under-
stand the reason. Why not let the thing drop this month ?

This, however, by no means met Tony's views. A pretty
figure he would cut if it were to be said he couldn't
keep up a paper for two numbers running ! No ! his mind

was made up. No. 2 should come out, even if he wrote
every word of it himself! And with that determination he

hobbled off to his study. Here he met Simon waiting for
him.

' Oh/ said the poet ; * I only brought this, if you'll put it
in. I think it's not bad. I could make it longer if you like.
I find poetry comes so easily, you know ! '

Tony glanced over the paper and grinned. ' Thanks,
awfully ! This will do capitally ; it would spoil it to make
it any longer. You're a brick, Simon ! I wish I could
write poetry.'

' Oh, never mind. I could do some more bits about
other things, you know, if you like.'

Pembury said he didn't think he should require any more
' bits,' but was awfully obliged by this one, which was first-
rate, a recommendation which sent Simon away happy to

his study, there immediately to compose the opening stanza
of his famous epic, ' The Sole's Allegery — a sacred Poem.'

With one contribution in hand, Tony locked his door and
sat down to write. There was something out of the common
about Pembury. With the body of a cripple he had the

THE < DOMINICA N > A GAIN. 1 1 3

heart of a Hon, and difficulties only made it more dauntless.
Any one else would have thought twice, indeed, before
undertaking the task he was now setting himself to do, and
ninety-nine out of every hundred would have abandoned it
before it was half done. But Tony was indomitable.
Every night that week he locked his study door, and threats
and kicks and entreaties would not open it even to his dearest
friends. And slowly the huge white sheet before him
showed the signs of his diligence. The great long columns,
one after another, filled up ; paragraph followed paragraph,
and article article. He coolly continued the * History of St.
Dominic's ' begun last month by Bullinger, and the ' Reports
of the Sixth Form Debates ' commenced by Tom Senior.
And the ' Diary of the Sixth Form Mouse ' went on just as
if Wraysford had never abandoned it ; and the poem on the
Guinea-pigs, promised in No. 1, by the author of 'To a
Tadpole/ duly appeared also. Besides this, there were the

continuations of Tony's own articles, and his ' Personal
Notes,' and ' Squeaks from Tadpolopolis,' and advertisements
just as usual ; until, in due time, the last column was filled
up, the sheet triumphantly fixed in its frame, and as
triumphantly hung up on its own particular nails on the
wall outside the Fifth Form door.

It was a feat to be proud of, and Tony was justly and
pardonably proud. It was at least a gratification next
morning to see not only that the school generally took
unabated interest in the Dominican, but that he had fairly
astonished his own class-fellows. Their admiration of the
editor was unbounded and undisguised. Their consciences
had all, more or less, reproached them for backing out of
their responsibilities in the way they had ; and now it quite
touched them to see how, notwithstanding, Anthony had by
his own labour made up for their defect, and sustained the
reputation of the Fifth before all the school.

The crush outside the door was greater than ever this
time, and Master Paul, who again acted as policeman, was

H4 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

obliged to summon Stephen to his assistance in watching to
see that no damage came to the precious document.

The account of the Alphabet Match was very graphic,
and written quite in the usual absurd ( sporting style,' greatly
to the amusement of most of those who had taken part in
it. Here is a specimen : —

'At 4.30, sharp, the leather was taken into custody by
" Gamey " Raikes, at the wash-house end, who tried what
his artful " yorkers " could do in the way of dissolving
partnership. But Teddy Loman kept his willow straight up,
and said " Not at home " to every poser, leaving Noli to do
all the smacking. This pretty business might have gone on
till to-morrow week had the men's upper stories been as
" 0. k." as their timbers, but they messed about over a
pretty snick of Noll's, and, after popping the question three
times, Teddy got home just in time to see his two bails
tumble out of their groove. Teddy didn't like this, and
bowled his partner a wide compliment, which Noll, like a
sensible man, didn't walk out to, and Teddy was astonished
to find his party could get on without him ; ' and so on.

This version of the incident was by no means pleasant to
Loman, but to every one else it was highly diverting, and it
actually made one or two of the Fifth think that Oliver,
after all, had not done such a very discreditable thing in
taking that angry word in silence. If only he had shown
more spirit about the blow, they could have forgiven the
rest.

Then followed more from the ' Sixth Form Mouse ' :

' The Sixth held a Cabinet Council to-day to discuss who
should go out for nuts. The choice fell on Callonby. I
wonder why the Sixth are so fond of nuts. Why, monkeys eat
nuts. Perhaps that is the reason. What a popular writer Mr.
Bohn is with the Sixth ! they even read him at lesson time !
I was quite sorry when the Doctor had to bone Wren's
Bohn. I wonder, by the way, why that bird found it so
hard to translate the simplest sentence without his Bohn !

THE 'DOMINICAN' AGAIN. 115

The Doctor really shouldn't — I hope he will restore to
Wren his backbone by giving him back his Bohn. Hum !
I heard some one smiling. I'll go.'

The Sixth, a good many of them, were imprudent enough
to look very guilty at the reading of this extract, a circum-
stance which appeared to afford keenest delight to the Fifth.
But as Simon's poem followed, they had other food for
thought at the moment. The poem was entitled —

' A Revverie.

1.
I walked me in the garden, all in the garden fair,
And mused upon my hindmost sole 1 all in the open air.
When lo ! I heard above my head a sound all like a wisk, 2
I stepped me aside thereat out of the way so brisk.

11.

I looked me up, and there behold ! and lo ! a window broad,
And out thereof I did dizzern a gallant fishing-rod,
All sporting in the breaze untill the hook in ivy caught,
And then the little lad he tried to pull it harder than he ought.

III.

It broke, alas ! and so messeems fades life's perplecksing dreems,

And vanish like that fishing-rod all in the dark messeems.

I wonder if my perplecksing dreems will vanish like the rod in

the dark,
And I shall rise and rise and rise and rise all like a lark.

IV.

Oh wood I was a lark, a lark all lofty in the sky,

I do not know what I should do to quench my blazing eye.

I'd look me down on Dominic's, and think of the days when I

was young,
Or would I was an infant meek all sucking of my thumb.'

Again Simon, who had watched with intense interest the
reception of his poem, was perplexed to notice the amuse-
ment it had caused. Even Pembury had mistaken its ' inmost

1 Possibly 'inmost soul.' 2 Possibly 'whisk.'

u6 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC 'S.

soul/ for he had placed it in the column devoted to
' Facetiae.' Nor could Simon understand why, for the next
week, every one he met had his thumb in his mouth. It
was very queer — one of life's mysteries — and he had
thoughts of embodying the fact in his 'Sole's Allegery,'
which was now rapidly approaching completion.

After this bubbling up of pure verse there followed a (q\v
remarks about Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles, which had the
effect of highly incensing those young gentlemen. The
paragraph was entitled —

' Market Intelligence.

' Half a dozen mixed Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles were
offered for sale by auction on the centre landing yesterday.

There was only a small attendance. The auctioneer said
he couldn't honestly recommend the lot, but they must be
got rid of at any cost. He had scrubbed their faces and
combed their hair for the occasion, but couldn't guarantee
that state of things to last. But they might turn out to be
of use as substitutes in case worms should become scarce;
and, any way, by boiling down their fingers and collars,
many gallons of valuable ink could be obtained. The first
bid was a farthing, which seemed to be far beyond the
expectation of the salesman, who at once knocked the lot
down. The sale was such a success that it is proposed to
knock down several more lots in a like manner.'

The rage of the Fourth Junior on reading this paragraph
was something awful to witness. Bramble, feeling he must
kick somebody on the legs, kicked Stephen, who, forgetting
that he was on police duty, seized Bramble by the hair of
his head and rushed off with him to the ' meeting,* closely
followed by Paul and the whole swarm. That meeting
lasted from three to five. What awful threats were uttered,
and what awful vows taken, no one knew. At five o'clock
Stephen's fight with Bramble came off as usual, and all that

THE "DOMINICAN" AGAIN. 117

evening Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles did nothing but make
paper darts. It was certain a crisis had come in their history.
The i dogs of war * were let loose ! They would be revenged
on somebody ! So they at once began to be revenged on
one another, till it should be possible to unite their forces
against the common foe.

But the remainder of the crowd stayed on to read one
more extract from the Dominican. Under the title of
4 Reviews of Books,' Anthony had reviewed in style the last
number of the Sixth Form Magazine as follows : —

' This book appears to be the praiseworthy attempt of
some ambitious little boys to enter the field of letters. We
are always pleased to encourage juvenile talent, but we would
suggest that our young friends might have done better had
they kept to their picture-books a little longer before launch-
ing out into literature on their own account. In the words
of the poet we might say-

" Babies, wait a little longer,
Till the little wings are stronger,
Then you'll fly away."

Nevertherless, we would refer to one or two of these interest-
ing attempts. Take, for example, the essay on the f ' Character
of Julius Csesar," by one who signs himself Raleigh. This
is very well written. Pains have been taken about the for-
mation of the letters, and some of the capitals are specially
worthy of praise. For one so young, we rarely saw the
capital D so well done. Dr. Smith, were he alive, would be
pleased to see his remarks on Caesar so well and accurately
copied out Master Wren gives us some verse — a translation
out of Horace. We wonder if Mr. Wren is any relation to
the late Jenny Wren who married Mr. Cock Robin. We
should imagine from these verses that Mr. Wren must be
well acquainted with Robbin\ Take one more, Master
Loman's " A Funny Story." We are sorry to find Master
Loman tells stories. Boys shouldn't tell stories; it's not

u8 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

right. But Master Loman unfortunately does tell stories,
and this is one. He calls it " A Funny Story." That is a story
to begin with, for it is not funny. We don't know what
Master Loman thinks funny ; perhaps he calls being run out
at cricket funny, or hitting another boy in the mouth when

he's looking another way. In any case, we can't make out
why he calls this story funny. The only funny thing about
it is its title, and his spelling " attach " a atta/ch." The last
is really funny. It shows how partial Mr. Loman is to tea.
If this funny story is the result of his partiality to tea, we
are afraid it was very weak stuff.'

Loman, who had already been made dreadfully uncomfort-
able by Simon's poem, made no secret of his rage over this
number of the Dominican. He was one of those vain
fellows who cannot see a jest where it is levelled at them-
selves. The rest of the Sixth had the sense, whatever they
felt, to laugh at Anthony's hard hits. $ut no ^ so I-oman ;
he lost his temper completely. He ordered the Dominican
to be taken down ; he threatened to report the whole Fifth
to the Doctor. He would not allow the junior boys to
stand and read it. In short, he made a regular ass of himself.

Undoubtedly Anthony had put a great deal of venom
into his pen. Still, by taking all the poison and none of
the humour to himself Loman made a great mistake, and
displayed a most unfortunate amount of weakness.

He shut himself up in his study in a fume ; he boxed
Stephen's ears for nothing at all, and would see no one for
the rest of the evening. He knew well he could not have
given his enemies a greater crow over him than such conduct,
and yet he could not command his vanity to act otherwise.

But that evening, just before tea-time, something happened
which gave Loman more to think about than the Dominican.
A letter marked ' Immediate ' came to him by the post. It
was from Cripps, to say that, after all, Sir Patrick had won
the Derby !

( H9)

CHAPTER XIII.

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER.

CRIPPS'S letter was as follows :
' Hon. Sir, — This comes hoping you are well. You
may like to know Sir Patrick won. The tip was all out.
Hon. Sir, — My friend would like his ten pounds sharp, as
he's a poor man. Please call in on Saturday afternoon.
Your very humble servant, Ben Cripps.'

This letter was startling enough to drive fifty Domitikans
out of Loman's head, and for a long time he could hardly
realise how bad the news it contained was.

He had reckoned to a dead certainty on winning the bet
which Cripps had advised him to make with his friend.
Not that Loman knew anything about racing matters, but
Cripps had been so confident, and it seemed so safe to bet
against this one particular horse, that the idea of events
turning out otherwise had never once entered his head.

He went to the door and shouted for Stephen, who
presently appeared with a paper dart in his hand.

( Greenfield,' said Loman, ( cut down at once to Maltby
and bring me a newspaper. 7

Stephen stared.

' I've got my lessons to do,' he said.
'Leave them here, I'll do them,' replied Loman; 'look
sharp.'

Still Stephen hesitated.

' We aren't allowed out after seven without leave,' he

i2o THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

faltered, longing to get back to the war preparations in the
Fourth Junior.

* I know that, and I give you leave — there ! ' said Loman,
with all the monitorial dignity he could assume.

This quite disarmed Stephen. Of course a monitor
could do no wrong, and it was no use objecting on that
score.

1

Still he was fain to find some other excuse.

i I say, will it do in the morning ? ' he began.

Loman's only reply was a book shied at his fag's head —
quite explicit enough for all practical purposes. So Stephen
hauled down his colours and prepared to start.

'Look sharp back,' said Loman, 'and don't let any one
see you going out. Look here, you can get yourself some
brandy-balls with this.'

Stephen was not philosopher enough to argue with him-
self why, if he had leave to go out, he ought to avoid being
seen going out. He pocketed Loman's extra penny com-
placently, and giving one last longing look in the direction
of the Fourth Junior, slipped quietly out of the school and
made the best of his way down to Maltby.

It was not easy at that time of day to get a paper.
Stephen tried half a dozen stationers' shops, but they were
all sold out. They were evidently more sought after than
brandy-balls, of which he had no difficulty in securing a
pennyworth at an early stage of his pilgrimage. The man
in the sweet-shop told him his only chance of getting a
paper was at the railway station.

So to the station he strolled, with a brandy-ball in each
cheek. Alas ! the stall was closed for the day.

Stephen did not like to be beaten, but there was nothieg
for it now but to give up this ' paper-chase,' and return to
Loman with a report of his ill-success.

As he trotted back up High Street, looking about every-
where but in the direction in which he was going (as is the
habit of small boys), and wondering in his heart whether

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 121

his funds could possibly stand the strain of another penny-
worth of brandy-balls, he suddenly found himself in sharp
collision with a man who expressed himself on the subject
of clumsy boys generally in no very measured terms.

Stephen looked up and saw Mr. Cripps the younger
standing before him.

* Why ! ' exclaimed that worthy, giving over his irascible
expletives, and adopting an air of unfeigned pleasure, 'why,
if it ain't young Master Greenhorn. Ha, ha ! How do, my
young bantam ? Pretty bobbish, eh ? '

Stephen did not know exactly what was meant by
t bobbish,* but replied that he was quite well, and sorry he
had trodden on Mr. Cripps's toes.

' Never mind,' said Mr. Cripps, magnanimously, ' you're
a light weight. And so you're taking a dander down town,
are you ? looking for lollipops, eh ? '

Stephen blushed very red at this. However had Mr.
Cripps guessed about the brandy-balls ?

' I came to get a paper for Loman,' he said, ' but they're
all sold out.'

' No, are they ? I wonder what Mr. Loman wants with a
paper, now ? '

' He said it was very important, and I was to be sure to
get one of to-day's/ said Stephen. 'Do you know where I
can get one ? '

' Of course. Come along with me ; I've got one at
home you can have. And so he said it was very important,
did he? That's queer. There's nothing in to-day's paper
at all. Only something about a low horse-race. He don't
want it for that, I guess ; eh ? '

' Oh, no, I shouldn't think,' said Stephen, trotting along
beside his amiable acquaintance.

Mr. Cripps was certainly a very friendly man, and as he
conducted Stephen to the Cockchafer, Stephen felt quite a
liking for him, and couldn't understand why Oliver and
Wraysford both ran him down.

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COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 123

True, Mr. Cripps did use some words which didn't seem
exactly proper, but that Stephen put down to the habit of
men in that part. The man seemed to take such an interest
in boys generally, and in Stephen in particular, and was so
interested and amused to hear all about the Guinea-pigs, and
the Dominican, and the Sixth versus School, that Stephen felt
quite drawn out to him. And then he told Stephen such a
lot of funny stones, and treated him with such evident
consideration, that the small boy felt quite flattered and

delighted.

So they reached the Cockchafer. Here Stephen, whose

former visits had all been to the lock-house, pulled up.

' I say,' said he, ' is this a public-house ? '

' Getting on that way,' said Mr. Cripps.

'We aren't allowed to go in public-houses/ said Stephen,
'it's one oi the rules.'

' Ah, quite right too ; not a good thing for boys at all.
We'll go in by the private door into my house/ said Mr.
Cripps.

Stephen was not quite comfortable at this evasion,
but followed Mr. Cripps by the side door into his bar
parlour.

'You won't forget the paper,' he said, 'please. I've got
to be back in school directly.'

' I'll have a look for it. Now, I guess you like ginger-
beer, don't you ? '

Stephen was particularly partial to ginger-beer, as it
happened, and said so.

' That's the style,' said Mr. Cripps, producing a bottle.
' Walk into that while I go and get the paper.'

Stephen did walk into it with great relish, and began to
think Mr. Cripps quite a gentleman. He was certain, even
if that bat had been a poor one, it was quite worth the
money paid for it, and Oliver was unjust in calling Cripps
hard names.

The landlord very soon returned with the paper.

I2 4 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' Here you are, young governor. Now don't hurry away.
It's lonely here all by myself, and I like a young gentleman
like you to talk to. I knew a nice little boy once, just
your age, that used to come and see me regular once a
week and play bagatelle with me. He was a good player
at it too ! '

' Could he get clear-board twice running with two balls ? '
asked Stephen, half jealous of the fame of this unknown
rival .

'Eh ! — no, scarcely that. He wasn't quite such a dab as
that.'

' I can do it,' said Stephen with a superior smile.

1 You ? Not a bit of you ! ' said Mr. Cripps, incredu-
lously.

'Yes, I can,' reiterated Stephen, delighted to have
astonished his host.

' I must see it before I can believe that/ said Mr. Cripps.

' Suppose you show me on my board/

Stephen promptly accepted the challenge, and forgetting
in his excitement all about school rules or Loman's orders
accompanied Cripps to the bagatelle-room, with its sanded
floor, smelling of stale tobacco and beer-dregs. His first
attempt, greatly to Mr. Cripps's glee, was unsuccessful.

' I knew you couldn't/ exclaimed that worthy.

' 1 know I can do it/ said Stephen, excitedly. ' Let's try
again.'

After a few more trials he made the two clear boards, and
Mr. Cripps was duly astonished and impressed.

'That's what I call smart play,' said he. 'Now, if I
was a betting man, I'd wager a sixpence you couldn't do it
again. '

'Yes, I can, but I won't bet/ said Stephen. He did do
it again, and Mr. Cripps said it was a good job for him the
young swell didn't bet, or he would have lost his sixpence.
Stephen was triumphant.

How long he would have gone on showing off his prowess

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 125

to the admiring landlord of the Cockchafer, and how far he
might have advanced in the art of public-house bagatelle, I
cannot say, but the sudden striking of a clock and the
entry of visitors into the room reminded him where he
was.

' I must go back now,' he said, hurriedly.

1 Must you? Well } come again soon. I've a great
fancy to learn that there stoke. I'm a born fool at
bagatelle. What do you say to another ginger-beer before

you go ? '

Stephen said 'Thank you, 'and then taking the newspaper
in his hand bade Cripps good-bye.

' Good-bye, my fine young fellow. You're one of the
right sort, you are. No stuck-up nonsense about you.
That's why I fancy you. Bye-bye. My love to Mr.
Loman.'

Stephen hurried back to St. Dominic's as fast as his legs
would carry him. He was not quite comfortable about his
evening's proceedings, although he was not aware of having
done anything wicked. Loman, a monitor, had given him
leave to go down to Maltby, so that was hardly a crime ;
and as to the Cockchafer — -well, he had only been in the
private part of the house, and not the public bar, and surely
there had been no harm in drinking ginger-beer and playing
bagatelle, especially when he had distinctly refused to bet
on the latter. But, explain it as he would. Stephen felt
uncomfortable enough to determine him to say as little as
possible about his expedition.

He found Loman impatiently awaiting him.

'Wherever have you been to all this time?' he de-
manded.

'The papers were all sold out,' said Stephen. 'I tried
seven places.'

Loman had eagerly caught up and opened the paper while
Stephen nervously made this explanation, and he took no
further heed of his fag, who presently, seeing he was no

126 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

longer wanted, and relieved to get out of reach of questions^
prudently retired.

A glance sufficed to confirm the bad news about the
Derby. Sir Patrick had won, and it was a fact therefore that
Loman owed Cripps and his friend between them thirty
pounds, without the least possibility of paying them.

One thing was certain. He must see Cripps on Saturday,
and trust to his luck (though that of late had not been very
trustworthy) to pull him through, somehow.

Alas ! what a spirit this, in which to meet difficulties !
Loman had yet to learn that it is one thing to regret, and
another thing to repent ; that it is one thing to call one's
self a fool, and another thing, quite, to cease to be one.

But, as he said to himself, he must go through with it
now, and the first step took him deeper than ever into the
mire.

For the coming Saturday was the day of the great cricket
match, Sixth v. School, from which a Dominican would as
soon think of deserting as of emigrating.

But Loman must desert if he was to keep his appoint-
ment, and he managed the proceeding with his now character-
istic untruthfulness ; a practice he would have scorned only a
few months ago. How easy the first wrong step ! What a long
weary road when one, with aching heart, attempts to retrace
the way ! And at present Loman had made no serious
effort in that direction.

On the Friday morning, greatly to the astonishment of
all his class-fellows, he appeared in his place with his arm in
a sling.

'Hullo, Loman V said Wren, the first whom he en-
countered, * what's the row with you ? '

' Sprained my wrist/ said Loman, to whom, alas ! — so easy
is the downward path when once entered on — a lie had
become an easy thing to utter.

' How did you manage that ? ? exclaimed Callonby. ' Mind
you get it right by to-morrow, or we shall be in a fix.'

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 127

This little piece of flattery pleased Loman, who said,
( I'm afraid I sha'n't be able to play.'
1 What ! Who's that won't be able to play ? ' said Raleigh,
coming up in unwonted excitement.

' Loman ; he's sprained his wrist.'

' Have you shown it to Dr. Splints ? ' said Raleigh.

* No,' said Loman, beginning to feel uncomfortable. ' It's
hardly bad enough for that'

£ Then it's hardly bad enough to prevent your playing,' said

Raleigh, drily.

Loman did not like this. He and Raleigh never got on
well together, and it was evident the captain was more angry
than sympathetic now.

' Whatever shall we do for bowlers ? ' said some one.

'I'm awfully sorry,' said Loman, wishing he was anywhere
but where he was ; ' but how am I to help ? '

1 Whatever induced you to sprain your wrist?' said Wren.
1 You might just as well have put it off till Monday.'

'Just fancy how foolish we shall look if those young
beggars beat us, as they are almost sure to do,' said
Winter.

Loman was quickly losing his temper, for all this was, or
seemed to be, addressed pointedly to him.

* What's the use of talking like that ? ' he retorted. ' You
ass, you ! as if I could help.'

' Shouldn't wonder if you could help,' replied Winter.

' Perhaps,' suggested some one, i it was the Dominican
put him out of joint. It certainly did give him a rap over
the knuckles.'

' What do you mean ? ' exclaimed Loman, angrily,
and half drawing his supposed sprained hand out of the
sling.

'Shut up, you fellows,' interposed Raleigh, authoritatively.
' Baynes will play in the eleven to-morrow instead of Loman,
so there's an end of the matter.'

Loman was sorely mortified. He had expected his

128 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

defection would create quite a sensation, and that his class-
fellows would be inconsolable at his accident. Instead
of that, he had only contrived to quarrel with nearly all of
them, alienating their sympathy ; and in the end he was to
be quietly superseded by Baynes, and the match was to go

r

on as if he had never been heard of at St. Dominic's.

' Never mind ; I'm bound to go and see Cripps. Besides/
said he to himself, 'they'll miss me to-morrow, whatever they
say to-day.*

Next day, just when the great match was beginning, and
the entire school was hanging breathless on the issue of
every ball, Loman quietly slipped out of St. Dominic's,
and walked rapidly and nervously down to the Cockchafer
in Maltby.

' What shall I say to Cripps ? ' was the wild question he
kept asking himself as he went along ; and the answer had
not come by the time he found himself standing within that
worthy's respectable premises.

Mr. Cripps was in his usual good humour.

( Why, it's Mr. Loman ! so it is ! ' he exclaimed, in a

rapture. 'Now who would have thought of seeing you

here ? '

Loman was perplexed.

* Why, you told me to come this afternoon,' said he.

' Did I ? Ah, I dare say ! Never mind. Very kind of
a young gentleman like you to come and see the likes of me.
What'll you take ? '

Loman did not know what to make of this at all.

* I came to see you about that — that horse you told me to
bet against,' he said.

i I remember. What's his name ? Sir Patrick, wasn't it ?
My friend told me that he'd had the best of that What was
it ? Ten bob ? '

This affected ignorance of the whole matter in hand was
utterly bewildering to Loman, who had fully expected that,
instead of having to explain himself, he would have the

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 129

matter pretty plainly explained to him by his sportive

acquaintance.

' No, ten pounds. That was what I was to pay if the
horse won ; and, Cripps, I can't pay it, or the twenty pounds
either, to you.'

Cripps whistled.

' That's a go and no mistake ! ' he said. ' Afraid it won't
do, mister.'

'You told me Sir Patrick was sure not to win,' said
Loman.

'Ah, there was several of us took in over that there
horse/ coolly said Mr. Cripps. ' I lost a shilling myself
over him. Nice to be you, flush of cash, and able to pay
straight down.'

' I can't pay,' said Loman.

'Ah, but the governor can, I'll wager,' insinuated Cripps.

'He would never doit! It's no use asking him,' said
Loman.

Cripps 'whistled again.

' That's awkward. And my friend wants his money, too,
and so do L'

, ' I really can't pay,' said Loman. ' I say, Cripps, let us
off that twenty pounds. I really didn't mean about that

rod.'

Mr. Cripps fired up in righteous indignation.

'Ah, I dare say, mister. You'll come and snivel now,
will you ? But you were ready enough to cheat a honest
man when you saw a chance. No, I'll have my twenty
or else there'll be a rumpus. Make no mistake of
that ! '

The bare idea of a ' rumpus ' cowed Loman at once.
Anything but that.

' Come, now,' said Cripps, encouragingly, 'I'll wager you
can raise the wind somewheres.'

* I wish I knew how. I see no chance whatever, unless
— ' and here a brilliant idea suddenly struck him — ' unless I

130 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S,

get the Nightingale. Of course ; I say, Cripps, will you wait
till September?'

( What ! Three months ! And how do you suppose I'm
to find bread to eat till then ? ' exclaimed Mr. Cripps.

" Oh, do ! ' said Loman. ' I'm certain to be able to pay
then. I forgot all about the Nightingale/

' The Nightingale ? It must be an uncommon spicy bird
to fetch in thirty pound ! '

' It's not a bird,' said Loman, laughing ; ' it's a scholar-
ship.'

< A what ? '

'A scholarship. I'm in for an examination, you know,
and whoever's first gets fifty pounds a year for three
years.'

' But suppose you ain't first ? what then ? '

' Oh, but I'm sure to be. I've only got Fifth Form fellows
against me, and I'm certain to beat them \ '

; Well, 3 said Mr. Cripps, i I don't so much care about your
nightingales and cock-sparrows and scholarships, and all

them traps, but I'd like to oblige you.'

' Oh, thank you ! ' cried Loman, delighted, and feeling
already as if the debt was paid. ' And you'll get your friend
to wait too, won't you ? '

' Can't do that. I shall have to square up with him and
look to you for the lot, and most likely drop into the work-
house for my pains.'

' Oh, no. You can be quite certain of getting the
money.'

* Well, blessed if I ain't a easy-going cove/ said Mr.
Cripps, with a grin. ' It ain't every one as 'ud wait three
months on your poll-parrot scholarships, or whatever you
call 'em. Come, business is business. Give us your
promise on a piece of paper — if you must impose upon me.'

Loman, only too delighted, wrote at Mr. Cripps's dictation
a promise to pay the thirty pounds, together with five pounds
interest, in September, and quitted the Cockchafer with as

COMPANY AT THE COCKCHAFER. 131

light a heart as if he had actually paid off every penny of
the debt.

'Of course I'm safe to get it ! Why ever didn't I think
of that before ? Won't I just work the rest of the term !
Nothing like having an object when you're grinding.'

With this philosophical reflection he re-entered St. Domi-
nic's, and unobserved rejoined the spectators in the cricket
field, just in time to witness a very exciting finish to a
fiercely contested encounter.

( 132 )

CHAPTER XIV.

SIXTH V. SCHOOL.

EVER had a Sixth v. School Match been looked for-
ward to with more excitement at St. Dominic's than
the present one. Party feeling had been running high all
the term, intensified on the one hand by the unpopularity
of some of the monitors, and on the other by the defiant atti-
tude of the Fifth and the tone of their organ, the Dominican.
The lower school naturally looked on with interest at this
rivalry between the two head forms, the result of which, as
might have been expected, was the reverse of beneficial for
the discipline of the school generally. If the big boys set
a bad example and disregard rules, what can one expect of
the little ones ?

So far, anything like conflict had been avoided. The
Fifth had * cheeked ' the Sixth, and the Sixth had snubbed
the Fifth ; but with the exception of Loman's assault on
Oliver, which had not led to a fight, the war had been
strictly one of words. Now, however, the opposing forces
were to be ranged face to face at cricket ; and to the junior
school the opportunity seemed a grand one. for a display of
partisanship one side or the other.

The School Eleven, on this occasion, moreover, consisted
exclusively of Fifth Form boys — a most unusual circum-
stance, and one which seemed to be the result quite as
much of management as of accident. At least so said the
disappointed heroes of the Fourth.

SIXTH v. SCHOOL. 133

The match was, in fact — whatever it was formally styled
— a match between the Sixth and the Fifth, and the partisans
of either side looked upon it as a decisive event in the
respective glories of the two top forms.

And now the day had come. All St. Dominic's trooped
out to the meadows, and there was a rush of small boys as
usual for the front benches. Stephen found himself along
with his trusty ally, Paul, and his equally trusty enemy,
Bramble, and some ten other Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles,
wedged like sardines upon a form that would comfortably
hold six, eagerly canvassing the prospects of the struggle.

' The Sixth are going to win in a single innings, if you
fellows want to know/ announced Bramble, with all the
authority of one who knows.

'Not a bit of it,' replied Paul. 'The Fifth are safe to
win, I tell you.'

But they've got no decent bowlers,' said Raddleston.

' Never mind,' said Stephen. ' Loman's not going to play
for the Sixth. He's sprained his wrist.'

' Hip, hip, hurrah ? ' yelled Paul, ' that is jolly ! They
are sure to be licked now. Are you sure he's out of it ? '

'Yes. Look at him there with his arm in a sling.'

And Stephen pointed to where Loman stood in his ordi-
nary clothes talking to some of his fellows.

' Well, that is a piece of luck ! ' said Paul. i Who's to
take his place ? '

' Baynes, they say. He's no use, though.'

' Don't you be too cock-sure, you two,' growled Bramble.
' I say we shall beat you even if Loman don't play. Got
any brandy-balls left, Greenfield ? '

Similar speculations and hopes were being exchanged all
round the field, and when at last the Fifth went out to field,
and Callonby and Wren went in to bat for the Sixth, you
might have heard a cat sneeze, so breathless was the excite-
ment.

Amid solemn silence the first few balls were bowled.

134 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DO Ml NIC S.

The third ball of the first over came straight on to Wren's
bat, who played it neatly back to the bowler. It was not a
run, only a simple block ; but it was the first play of the
match, and so quite enough to loosen the tongues of all the
small boys, who yelled, and howled, and cheered as frantic-
ally as if a six had been run or a wicket taken. And the
ice once broken, every ball and every hit were marked and
applauded as if empires depended on them.

It was in the midst of this gradually rising excitement
that Loman slipped quietly and unobserved from the scene,
and betook himself to the errand on which we accompanied
him in the preceding chapter.

The two Sixth men went quickly to work, and at the end
of the second over had scored eight. Then Callonby, in
stepping back to 'draw' one of Wraysford's balls, knocked
down his wicket.

How the small boys yelled at this !

But the sight of Raleigh going in second soon silenced
them.

' They mean hard work by sending in the captain now,'
said Paul. ' I don't like that ! '

'No more do 1/ said Stephen. * He always knocks
Oliver's bowling about.'

' Oh, bother ; is your brother bowling ? ' said Master
Paul, quite unconscious of wounding any one's feelings.
' It's a pity they've got no one better.'

Stephen coloured up at this, and wondered what made
Paul such a horrid boy.

* Better look out for your eyes/ said Bramble, cheerily.
' The captain always knocks up this way, over square-leg's

head.'

There was a general buzz of youngsters round the field,
as the hero of the school walked up to the wicket, and
coolly turned to face Oliver's bowling.

The scorer in the tent hurriedly sharpened his pencil.
The big fellows, who had been standing up to watch the

SIXTH v. SCHOOL. 135

opening overs, sat down on the grass and made themselves
comfortable. Something was going to happen, evidently.
The captain was in, and meant business.

Oliver gripped the ball hard in his hand, and walked back
to the end of his run. * Play ! ' cried the umpire, and amid
dead silence the ball shot from the bowler's hand.

Next moment there rose a shout loud enough to deafen
all St. Dominic's. The ball was flying fifty feet up in the
air, and Raleigh was slowly walking, bat in hand, back to
the tent he had only a moment ago quitted !

The captain had been clean bowled, first ball !

Who shall describe the excitement, the yelling, the cheer-
ing, the consternation that followed ? Paul got up and
danced a hornpipe on the bench ; Bramble kicked the boy
nearest to him. * Well bowled, sir ! ' shouted some. ' Hard
lines ! ' screamed others. ' Hurrah for the Fifth ! ' ' You'll
beat them yet, Sixth ! ' such were a few of the shouts audible
above the general clamour.

As for Stephen, he was wild with joy. He was a staunch
partisan of the Fifth in any case, but that was nothing to
the fact that it was Ms brother, his own brother and nobody
else's, who had bowled that eventful ball, and who was at
that moment the hero of St, Dominic's- Stephen felt as
proud and elated as if he had bowled the ball himself, and
could afford to be absolutely patronising to those around
him, on the head of this achievement.

'That wasn't a bad ball of Oliver's,' he said to Paul.
' He can bowl very well when he tries.'

' It was a beastly fluke ! ' roared Bramble, determined to
see no merit in the exploit.

' Shut up and don't make a row,' said Stephen, with a
bland smile of forgiveness.

Bramble promised his adversary to shut Mm up, and after
a little more discussion and altercation and jubilation, the
excitement subsided, and another man "went in.

All this while the Fifth were in ecstasies. They con-

136 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

trolled their feelings, however, contenting themselves with
clapping Oliver on the back till he was nearly dead, and
speculating on the chances of beating their adversaries in
a single innings.

But they had not won the match. yet.

Winter was next man in, and he and Wren fell to
work very speedily in a decidedly business-like way. No
big hits were made, but the score crawled up by ones and
twos steadily, and the longer they were at it the steadier
they played. Loud cheers announced the posting of thirty
on the signal-board, but still the score went on. Now it
was a slip, now a bye, now a quiet cut.

' Bravo ! well played ! ' cried Raleigh and his men fre-
quently. The captain, by the way, was in excellent spirits,
despite his misfortune.

Thirty-five, forty ! The Fifth began to look hot and
puzzled. The batsmen were evidently far too much at
home with the bowling. A change must be made, even
though it be to put on only a second-rate bowler.

Tom Senior was put on. He was nothing like as good
a bowler as either Wraysford, or Oliver, or Ricketts. He
bowled a very ordinary slow lob, without either twist or
shoot, and was usually knocked about plentifully ; and this
appeared likely to be his fate now, for AVren got hold of
his first ball, and knocked it right over into the scorer's tent
for five. The Fifth groaned, and could have torn the
wretched Tom to pieces. But the next ball was more
lucky ; Winter hit it, indeed, but he hit it up, sky-high, over
the bowler's head, and before it reached the ground Bui-
linger was safe underneath it. It was with a sigh of relief
that the Fifth saw this awkward partnership broken up.
The score was at forty-eight for three wickets ; quite enough
too !

After this the innings progressed more evenly. Men
came in and went out more as usual, each contributing his
three or four, and one or two their ten or twelve. Among

SIXTH v. SCHOOL. 137

the latter was Baynes, who, at the last moment, it will be
remembered, had been put into the eleven to replace
Loman. By careful play he managed to put together ten,
greatly to his own delight, and not a little to the surprise of
his friends.

In due time the last wicket of the Sixth fell, to a total of
eighty-four runs.

The small boys on the bench had had leisure to abate
their ardour by this time. Bramble had recovered his
spirits, and Paul and Stephen looked a little blue as they
saw the total signalled.

' Eighty-four's a lot/ said Stephen.

Paul nodded glumly.

' Ya, ha ! How do you like it, Guinea-pigs ? ' jeered
Bramble. ( I hope yoitll get half as much, /knew how it
would be.'

The two friends listened to these taunts in silent sorrow,
and wished the next innings would begin.

It did presently, and not very brilliantly either. The
Fifth only managed to score fifty-one, and to this total
Wraysford was the only player who made anything like good
scoring. Oliver got out for six, Ricketts for nine, and Tom
Senior and Braddy both for a ( duck's-egg/ Altogether it
was a meagre performance, and things looked very gloomy
for the Fifth when, for a second time, their adversaries
took the wickets.

Things never turn out at cricket as one expects, however,
and the second innings of the Sixth was no exception to
the rule. They only made thirty-six runs. Stephen and
Paul were hoarse with yelling, as first one wicket, then
another, went down for scarcely a run. Raleigh and Baynes

seemed the only two who could stand up at all to the
bowling of Oliver and Wraysford, but even their efforts
could not keep the wickets up for long.

Every one saw now that the final innings would be a
desperate struggle. The Fifth wanted sixty-nine to be equal

138 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

and seventy to win, and the question was, Would they do it
in time ?

Stephen and his confederate felt the weight of this ques-
tion so oppressive that they left the irritating company of
Mr. Bramble, and walked off and joined themselves to a
group of Fourth Form fellows, who were watching the match
with sulky interest, evidently sore that they had none of
their men in the School Eleven.

' They'll never do it, and serve them right ! ' said one.
' Why didn't they put Mansfield in the eleven, or Banks ?
They're far more use than Fisher or Braddy.'

' For all that, it'll be a sell if the Sixth lick/ said another.

' I wouldn't much care. If we are going to be sat upon
by those Fifth snobs every time an eleven is made up, it's
quite time we did go in with the Sixth.'

'Jolly for the Sixth!' retorted the other; whereupon
Stephen laughed, and had his ears boxed for being cheeky.
The Fourth Senior could not stand ' cheek.'

But St. Dominic's generally was 'sweet' on the Fifth, and
hoped they would win. When, therefore, Tom Senior and
Bullinger went in first and began to score there was great
rejoicing.

But the Fourth Form fellows, among whom Stephen now
was, refused to cheer for any one ; criticism was more in
their line.

' Did you ever see a fellow hit across wickets more
horribly than Senior ? ' said one.

' Just look at that ! ' cried another. ' That Bullinger's a
downright muff not to get that last ball to leg ! I could
have got it easily.'

' Well, with that bowling, it's a disgrace if they dorCt score ;
that's all I can say/ remarked a third.

And so these Fourth Form grandees went on, much to
Stephen's wrath, who, when Oliver went in, removed some-
where else, so as to be out of ear-shot of any offensive
remarks.

SIXTH v. SCHOOL. \y$

Oliver, however, played so well that even the Fourth
Form critics could hardly run him down. He survived all
the other wickets of his side, and, though not making a
brilliant score, did what was almost as useful — played
steadily, and gradually demoralised the bowling of the
enemy.

As the game went on the excitement increased rapidly ;
and when at length the ninth wicket went down for sixty-
one, and the last man in appeared, with nine to win, the
eagerness on both sides scarcely knew bounds. Every ball,
every piece of fielding, was cheered by one side, and every
hit and every piece of play was as vehemently cheered by
the other. If Raleigh and Wren had been nervous bowlers,
they would undoubtedly have been disconcerted by the
dead silence, followed by terrific applause, amid which
every ball — even a wide — was delivered. But happily they

were not

It was at this critical juncture that Loman reappeared
on the scene, much consoled to have the interview with
Cripps over, and quite ready now to hear every one lament
his absence from the match.

The last man in was Webster, a small Fifth boy, who in
the last innings had signalised himself by making a duck's
egg. The Fifth scarcely dared hope he would stay in long
enough for the nine runs required to be made, and looked
on now almost pale with anxiety.

'Now,' said Pembury, near whom Loman, as well as our
two Guinea-pigs, found themselves, * it all depends on Oliver,
and I back Oliver to do it, don't you, Loamy ? '

Loman, who since the last Dominican had not been on
speaking terms with Pembury, did not vouchsafe a reply.

1 1 do V said Stephen, boldly.

* Do you, really ? ' replied Pembury, looking round at the
boy. ( Perhaps you back yourself to talk when you're not
spoken to, eh, Mr. Greenhorn ?'

' Bravo ! bravo ! Well run, sir ! Bravo, Fifth ! ' was the

140 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

cry as Oliver, following up the first ball of the over, pilfered
a bye from the long-stop.

' Didn't I tell you ! * exclaimed Pembury, delighted ;
' he'll save us ; he's got down to that end on purpose

to take the bowling. Do you twig, Loamy? And he'll
stick to that end till the last ball of the over, and then he'll
run an odd number, and get up to the other end. Do you
comprehend ? '

' You seem to know all about it,' growled Loman, who
saw the force of Pembury's observations, but greatly dis-
liked it all the same.

' Do I, really ? ' replied the lame* boy ; ' how odd that is,
now — particularly without a crib ! '

Loman was fast losing patience — a fact which seemed to
have anything but a damping effect on the editor of the
Dominican. But another hit or two by Oliver created a
momentary diversion. It was quite clear that Pembury's
version of Oliver's tactics was a correct one. He could
easily have run three, but preferred to sacrifice a run rather
than leave the incompetent and flurried Webster to face
the bowling.

' Six to win ! ' cried Stephen ; ' I'm certain Oliver will
do it ! '

' Yes, Oliver was always a plodding old blockhead ! '
drily observed Pembury, who seemed to enjoy the small
boy's indignation whenever any one spoke disrespectfully of
his big brother.

' He's not a blockhead ! ' retorted Stephen, fiercely.

' Go it ! Come and kick my legs, young 7 un ; there's no
one near but Loamy, and he can't hurt.'

i Look here, you lame little wretch ! ' exclaimed Loman,
in a passion ; 'if I have any more of your impudence I'll
box your ears ! '

' I thought your wrist was sprained ? ' artlessly observed
Pembury. ' Here, young Paul, let's get behind you, there's
a e;ood fellow, I am in such a funk ! '

SIXTH v. SCHOOL. 141

Whether Loman would have carried out his threat or not
is doubtful, but at that moment a terrific shout greeted
another hit by Oliver — the best he had made during the
match — for which he ran four. One to tie, two to win !

will they do it ?

It was a critical moment for St, Dominic's. Had the
two batsmen been playing for their lives they could not have
been more anxiously watched ; even Pembury became
silent.

And now the last ball of the over is bowled in dead
silence. Onlookers can even hear the whizz with which it
leaves Wren's hand.

It is almost wide, but Oliver steps out to it and just
touches it. Webster is half across the wickets already —
ready for a bye. Oliver calls to him to come on, and runs.
It is a desperate shave — too desperate for good play. But
who cares for that when that run has pulled the two sides
level, and when, best of all, Oliver has got up to the
proper end for the next over ?

Equal ! What a shout greets the announcement !
But it dies away suddenly, and a new anxious silence
ensues. The game is saved, but not won ; another run
is wanted.

No one says a word, but the Fifth everywhere look
on with a confidence which is far more eloquent than
words.

Raleigh is the bowler from the lower end, and the
Sixth send out their hearts to him. He may save them
yet!

He runs, in his usual unconcerned manner, up to the
wicket and delivers the ball. It is one which there is but
one way of playing — among the slips.

Oliver understands it evidently, and, to the joy of the
Fifth, plays it. But why does their cheer drop suddenly,
and why in a moment is it drowned, over and over and
over again, by the cheers of the Sixth and their partisans,

H2 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

as the crowd suddenly breaks into the field, and the ball
shoots high up in the air ?

A catch ! Baynes, the odd man, had missed a chance
a few overs back from standing too deep. This time he
had crept in close, and saved the Sixth by one of the
neatest low-catches that had ever been seen in a Dominican
match.

( M3)

CHAPTER XV.

A LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVAL.

I

* Y TELL you what, Wray, 5 said Oliver one evening
about a week after the match, ' I heartily wish this
term was over.'

* Why, that's just what I heard your young brother say.
He is going to learn the bicycle, he says, in the holidays/

' Oh, it's not the holidays I want,' said Oliver. ' But
somehow things have gone all wrong. I've been off my
luck completely this term.'

( Off your luck!* -You great discontented, ungrateful
bear. Haven't you got the English prize? Aren't you
in the School Eleven ? and didn't you make top score in
the match with the Sixth last Saturday ? Whatever do you
mean by " off your luck " ? '

' Oh, it's not that, you know,' said Oliver, pulling a quill
pen to bits. ' What I mean is — oh, bother ! — a fellow can't

explain it.'

' So it seems,' laughed Wraysford • ( but I wish a fellow
could, for I've not a notion what you're driving at.'

( Well, I mean I'm not doing much good. There's that
young brother of mine, for instance. What good have I
been to him ? There have I let him go and do just what
he likes, and not looked after him a bit ever since he
came here.'

'And I wager he's got on all the better for not being tied

144 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC 'S.

up to your apron strings. He's a fine honest little chap, is
young Greenfield.'

' Oh, I dare say ; but somehow I don't seem to know as
much of him now as I used to do before he came here.'

' That's Loman's fault, I bet you anything,' exclaimed
Wraysford. * I'm sure he won't do the kid any good. But
Rastle was saying only yesterday how well Stephen was
getting on in class.'

'Was he? It's little thanks to me if he is,' said Oliver,
gloomily.

' And what else have you got to grumble about ? ' asked
his friend.

< Why, you know how I'm out with the Fifth over that
affair with Loman. They all set me down as a coward, and
I'm not that.'

( Of course you aren't,' warmly replied the other. 'But,
Noll, you told me a little while ago you didn't care a snap
what they thought.'

'No more I do, in a way. But it's very uncomfortable.'

' Why don't you tell them straight out why you didn't let
out at Loman ? They are sure to respect your motive.'

' Yes, and set me down as posing as a martyr or a saint !
No ! I'd sooner pass as a coward than set up as a saint
when I'm not one. Why, Wray, if you'll believe me, I've
been a worse Christian since I began to try to be one, than
I ever was before. I'm for ever losing my temper, and — '

'Shut up that tune, now,' interposed Wraysford, hurriedly.
( If you are beginning at that again, I'll go. As if you
didn't know you were the best fellow in the school ! '

' I'm not the best, or anything like,' said Oliver, warmly ;
' I hate your saying so — I wish almost I had never told you
anything about it.'

' Well, I don't know/ said Wraysford, walking to the
window and looking out. ' Ever since you told me of it,
I've been trying myself in a mild way to go straight. But
it's desperate hard work.'

A LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVAL. 145

( Desperate hard work even if you try in more than a
mild way/ said Oliver.

Both were silent for a little, and then Oliver, hurriedly
changing the subject, said,

'And then, to proceed with my growl, I'm certain to
come a howler over the Nightingale/

Wraysford turned from the window with a laugh/

' I suppose you expect me to sympathise with you about
that, eh ? The bigger the howler the better for me ! I
only wish you were a true prophet, Noll, in that particular. '

' Why, of course you'll beat me — and if you don't Loman
will. I hear he's grinding away like nuts/

1 Is he, though ? ' said Wraysford.

1 Yes, and he's going to get a " coach " in the holidays

too/

' More likely a dog-cart. Anyhow, I dare say he will
run us close. But he's such a shifty fellow, there's no
knowing whether he will stay out/

Just at that moment a terrific row came up from below.

' Whatever* s up down there ?'

' Only the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles. By the way/ said
Wraysford, < they've got a grand "supper/' as they call it,
on to-night to celebrate their cricket match. Suppose we
go and see the fun ? '

'All right ! ' said Oliver. ' Who won the match?/

'Why, what a question! Do you suppose a match
between Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles ever came to an end ?
They had a free fight at the end of the first innings. The
Tadpole umpire gave one of his own men "not 'out " when
he hit his wicket, and they made a personal question of it,
and fell out. Your young brother, I hear, greatly distin-
guished himself in the argument/

' Well, it doesn't seem to interfere with their spirits no\v f
to judge of the row they are making. Just listen ! '

By this time they had reached the door of the Fourth
Junior room, whence proceeded a noise such as one often

146 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

hears in a certain popular department of the Zoological
Gardens. Amid the tumult and hubbub the two friends
had not much difficulty in slipping in unobserved and
seating themselves comfortably in an obscure corner of the
festive apartment, behind a pyramid of piled-up chairs and
forms.

The Junior * cricket feast ; was an institution in St.
Dominic's, and was an occasion when any one who had
nerves to be excruciated or ear-drums to be broken took
care to keep out of the way. In place of the usual desks
and forms, a long table ran down the room, round which
some fifty or sixty urchins sat, regaling themselves with what
was left of a vast spread of plum-cake, buns, and ginger-
beer. How these banquets were provided was always a
mystery to outsiders. Some said a levy of threepence a
head was made ; others, that every boy was bound in honour
to contribute something eatable to the feast ; and others
averred that every boy had to bring his own bag and bottle,
and no more. Be that as it might, the Guinea-pigs and
Tadpoles at present assembled looked uncommonly tight
about the jackets after it all, and not one had the appear-
ance of actual starvation written on his lineaments.

The animal part of the feast, however, was now over, and
the intellectual was beginning. The tremendous noise which
had brought Oliver and Wraysford on to the scene had
indeed been but the applause which followed the chairman's
opening song — a musical effort which was imperatively
encored by a large and enthusiastic audience.

The chairman, by the way, was no other than our friend
Bramble, who by reason of seniority — he had been two
years in the Fourth Junior, and showed no signs of rising
higher all his life — claimed to preside on all such occasions.
He sat up at the top end in stately glory, higher than the
rest by the thickness of a Liddell and Scott, which was
placed on his chair to lift him up to the required elevation,
blushin^ly receiving the applause with which his song was

A LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVAL. 147

greeted, and modestly volunteering to sing it again if the
fellows liked.

The fellows did like. Mr. Bramble mounted once more
on to the seat of his chair, and saying, ' Look out for the
chorus! J began one of the time-honoured Dominican cricket
songs. It consisted of about twelve verses altogether, but
three will be quite enough for the reader.

' There was a little lad,

(Well bowled !)
And a little bat he had ;

(Well bowled !)
He skipped up to the wicket,
And thought he'd play some cricket,
But he didn't, for he was — -

Well bowled !

He thought he'd make a score

(So bold),
And lead off with a four

(So bold);
So he walked out to a twister,
But somehow sort of missed her.
And she bailed him, for he was

Too bold.

Now all ye little boys

(So bold),
Who like to make a noise

(So bold),
Take warning by young Walker,
Keep your bat down to a yorker,
Or, don't you see ? you'll be —

Well bowled J ;

The virtue of the pathetic ballad was in the chorus, which
was usually not sung, but spoken, and so presented a noble
opportunity for variety of tone and expression, which was
greedily seized upon by the riotous young gentlemen into
whose mouths it was entrusted. By the time the sad ad-
ventures of Master Walker had been rehearsed in all their

HS THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

twelve verses, the meeting was so hoarse that to the two
elder boys it seemed as if the proceedings must necessarily
come abruptly to a close for want of voice.

But no ! If the meeting was for the moment incapable
of song, speech was yet possible* and behold there arose
Master Paul in his place to propose a toast.

Now Master Paul was a Guinea-pig, and accounted a
mighty man in his tribe. Any one might have supposed
that the purpose for which he had now risen was to propose
in complimentary terms the health of his gallant opponents
the Tadpoles. This, however, was far from his intention.
His modesty had another theme. ' Ladies and gentlemen/
he began. There were no ladies present, but that didn't
matter. Tremendous cheers greeted this opening. 'You
all know me ; I am one of yourselves.' Paul had borrowed
this expression from the speech of a Radical orator, which
had appeared recently in the papers. Every one knew it
was borrowed, for he had asked about twenty of his friends
during the last week whether that wouldn't be 'a showy
lead-off for his cricket feast jaw ? '

The quotation was, however, now greeted as vociferously
as if it had been strictly original, and shouts of ' So you
are ! ' ' Bravo, Paul ! ' for a while drowned the orator's voice.
When silence was restored his eloquence took a new and
unexpected departure. 'Jemmy Welch, 111 punch your
head when we get outside, see if I don't ! ' Jemmy Welch
was a Guinea-pig who had just made a particularly good
shot at the speaker's nose with a piece of plum-cake.
' Now, ladies and gentlemen, I shall not detain you with a
speech (loud cheers from all, and "Jolly good job ! " from
Bramble). I shall go on speaking just as long as 1 choose,
Bramble, so now ! (Cheers.) I've as much right to speak
as you have. (Applause.) You're only a stuck-up duffer.
(Terrific cheers, and a fight down at the end of the table.)
I beg to drink the health of the Guinea-pigs. (Loud
Guinea-pig cheers.) We licked the old Tadpoles in the

A LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVAL. 149

match. (" No you didn't ! " " That's a cram ! " and groans
from the Tadpoles.) I say we did! Your umpire was a
cheat — they always are ! We beat you hollow, didn't we,
Stee Greenfield ? '

' Yes, rather ! ' shouted Stephen, snatching a piece of cake
away from a Tadpole and shying it to a Guinea-pig.

'That's eight matches we've won,' proceeded Paul ; * and
— all right, Spicer ! I saw you do it this time ! See if I

don't pay you for it ! ' whereat the speaker hurriedly quitted
his seat and, amid howls and yells, proceeded to ' pay out '
Spicer.

Meanwhile Stephen heard his name suddenly called upon
for a song, an invitation he promptly obeyed. But as the
clamour was at the time deafening, and the attention of the
• audience was wholly monopolised by the commercial trans-
actions taking place between Paul and Spicer, the effect of
the performance was somewhat lost. Oliver certainly did
see his young brother mount up on the table, turn very red
in the face, open his mouth and shut it, smile in one part,
look sorrowful in another, and wave his hand above his
head in another. But that was the only intimation he had
of a musical performance proceeding. Words and tune
were utterly inaudible by any one except the singer himself
— even if ke heard them.

This was getting monotonous, and the two visitors were
thinking of withdrawing, when the door suddenly opened,
and a dead silence prevailed. The new-comer was the
dirtiest and most ferocious-looking of all the boys in the
lower school, who rushed into the room breathless, and in
what would have been a white heat had his face been clean
enough to show it. ' What do you think ? ' he gasped,
catching hold of the back of a chair for support ; ' Tony
Pembury's kept me all this while brushing his clothes ! I
told him it was cricket feast, but he didn't care ! What do
you think of that ? Of course, you've finished all the grub ;
I knew you would ! '

ISO THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

This last plaintive wail of disappointment was drowned in
the clamour of execration which greeted the boy's announce-
ment. Lesser feuds were instantly forgotten in presence of
this great insult. The most sacred traditions of Guinea-pigs
and Tadpoles were being trampled upon by the tyrants of
the upper school ! Not even on cricket feast night was a
fag to be let off fagging !

It was enough ! The last straw breaks the camel's back,
and the young Dominicans had now reached the point of
desperation.

It was long before silence enough could be restored, and
then the redoubtable Spicer yelled out, ' Let's strike ! '

The cry was taken up with yells of enthusiasm — ' Strike !
No more fagging ! '

'Any boy who fags after this,' screamed Bramble, 'will
be cut dead ! Those w r ho promise hold up your hands —
mind, it's a promise ! '

There was no mistaking the temper of the meeting, every
hand in the room was held up.

' Mind now, no giving in ! ' cried Paul. ' Let's stick all
together. Greenfield senior shall kill me before I do
anything more for him ! '

' Poor fellow ! ' whispered Oliver, laughing ; ' what a lot of
martyrdoms he'll have to put up with ! '

'And Pembury shall kill me/ squealed the last comer,
who had comforted himself with several crusts of plum-
cakes and the dregs of about a dozen bottles of ginger-beer.
And every one protested their willingness to die in the
good cause.

At this stage Oliver and Wraysford withdrew unobserved.
' I'm afraid we've been eavesdropping,' said Oliver. 'Any-
how, I don't mean to take advantage of what I've heard.'

' What a young ruffian your brother is 1 ' said Wraysford ;
' he looked tremendously in earnest ! '

' Yes, he always is. You'll find he'll keep his word far
better than most of them.'

A LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVAL. 151

* If he does, I'm afraid Loman will make it unpleasant for
him,' said Wraysford.

'Very likely.'

'Then you'll have to interfere.'

'Why, what a bloodthirsty chap you are, Wray! You
are longing for me to quarrel with Loman. I'll wait till
young Stephen asks me to.'

' Do you think he will ? He's a proud little chap.'

Oliver laughed. i It'll serve him right if he does get a
lesson. Did ever you see such a lot of young cannibals as
those youngsters ? Are you coming to have supper with
me? '

The nine o'clock bell soon rang, and, as usual, Oliver
went to his door and shouted for Paul.

No Paul came.

He shouted again and again, but the fag did not appear.
£ They mean business,' he said. ' What shall I do ? Paul ! '

This time there came a reply down the passage — 'Sha'n't
come ! 7

' Ho, ho ! ' said Oliver ; ' this is serious ; they are sticking
to their strike with a vengeance ! I suppose I must go and
look for my fag, eh, Wray? Discipline must be maintained.'

So saying, Oliver stepped out into the passage and strolled
off in the direction from which the rebel's voice had pro-
ceeded. The passages were empty ; only in the Fourth
Junior room was there a sound of clamour.

Oliver went to the door ; it was shut. He pushed ; it
was fortified. He kicked on it ; a defiant howl greeted him
from the inside. He called aloud on his fag ; another
'Sha'n't come ! ' was his only answer.

It was getting past a joke, and Oliver's temper was, as we
have seen, not of the longest. He kicked again, angrily,
and ordered Paul to appear.

The same answer was given, accompanied with the same
yell, and Oliver's temper went faster than ever. He forgot
he was making himself ridiculous ; he forgot he was only

152 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM I NIC S.

affording a triumph to those whom he desired to punish;
he forgot the good resolutions which had held him back on
a former occasion, and, giving way to sudden rage, kicked
desperately at the door once more.

This time his forcible appeal had some effect. The lower
panel of the door gave way before the blow and crashed
inwards, leaving a breach large enough to admit a football.

It was an unlucky piece of success for Oliver, for next
moment he felt his foot grabbed by half a dozen small
hands within and held firmly, rendering him unable to stir
from his ridiculous position. In vain he struggled and
raged ; he was a tight prisoner, at the mercy of his captors.

It was all he could do to stand on his one foot, clinging
wildly to the handle of the door. In this dignified attitude
Wraysford presently found his friend, and in such a state of
passion and fury as he had never before seen him.

To rap the array of inky knuckles inside with a ruler, and

so disengage the captive foot, was the work of a minute.
Oliver stood for a moment facing the door and trembling
with anger, but Wraysford, taking him gently by the arm,
said, ' Come along, old boy ! '

There was something in his voice and look which brought
a sudden flush into the pale face of the angry Oliver.
Without a word, he turned from the door and accompanied
his friend back to the study. There were no long talks, no
lectures, no remorseful confessions that evening. The two
talked perhaps less than usual, and when they did it was
about ordinary school topics.

No reference was made either then or for a long while
afterwards to the events of the evening. And yet Oliver
and Wraysford, somehow, seemed more than ever drawn
together, and to understand one another better after this
than had ever been the case before.

154 )

CHAPTER XVI.

i

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE.

F anything had been required to make the ' strike ' of
the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles a serious matter, the

' affair of Greenfield senior's right foot ' undoubtedly had
that effect. The eclat which that heroic exploit lent to the
mutiny was simply marvellous. The story was told with
fifty exaggerations all over the school. One report said
that the whole body of the monitors had besieged the
Fourth Junior door, and had been repulsed with heavy
slaughter. Another declared that Oliver had been captured
by the fags, and branded on the soles of his feet with a G
and a T, to commemorate the emancipation of the Guinea-
pigs and Tadpoles ; and a third veracious narrative went so
far as to say that the Upper Fifth and several members of
the Sixth had humbly come and begged forgiveness for their
past misdeeds, and were henceforth to become the fags of
their late victims.

True or untrue as these stories were, any amount of
glory accompanied the beginning of the strike, and there
was sufficient sense of common danger to unite the young-
sters in very close bonds. You rarely caught a Guinea-pig
or a Tadpole alone now ; they walked about in dozens, and
were very wide awake. They assembled on every possible
occasion in their room, and fortified their door with chairs
and desks, and their zeal with fiery orations and excited
conjurations. One wretched youth who the first evening

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE. 155

had been weak enough to poke his master's fire, was ex-
pelled ignominiously from the community, and for a week
afterwards lived the life of an outcast in St. Dominic's.
The youngsters were in earnest, and no mistake.
Stephen Greenfield, as was only natural, did not alto-
gether find cause for exultation over the event which led
to the strike. For a whole day he was very angry on his
brother's account, and threatened to stand aloof from the
revolution altogether ; but when it was explained to him
this would lead to a general ' smash-up ' of the strike, and
when it was further explained that the fellows who caught
hold of his big brother's right foot couldn't possibly be
expected to know to whom that foot belonged, he relented,
and entered as enthusiastically as any one into the business.

Indeed, if all the rebels had been like Stephen, the fags
at St. Dominic's would be on strike to this day. He con-
templated martyrdom with the utmost equanimity, and the
Inquisition itself never saw a more determined victim.

The morning after the famous * cricket feast ' gave him
his first opportunity of sacrificing himself for the good of
his country. Loman met him in the passage after first
class.

' Why didn't you turn up and get my breakfast, you idle
young vagabond ? ' inquired the Sixth Form boy, half good-
humouredly, and little guessing what was in the wind.

'I'm not idle/ said Stephen,

' Then what do you mean by not doing your work ? '

'It's not my work.'

Loman opened his eyes in amazement, and stared at this

bold young hero as if he had dropped from the clouds.

' What ! ' he cried ; ' what do you say ? '

' It's not my work," repeated Stephen, blushing, but very
determined.

'Look here, young fellow/ said Loman, when he was sure
that he had really heard correctly, ' don't you play any of
your little games with me, or you'll be sorry for it.'

156 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

Stephen said nothing, and waited with a tremor for what
was to follow.

Loman was hardly a bully naturally. It was always easier
for him to be civil than to be angry, especially with small
boys, but this cool defiance on the part of his. fag was too
much for any one's civility, and Loman began to be angry.

' What do you mean by it ? ' he said, catching the boy by
the arm.

Stephen wrenched away his arm and stood dogged and
silent.

Nothing could have irritated Loman more. To be defied
and resisted by a youngster like this was an experience
quite new to him.

'Just come to my room,' said he, gripping his fag angrily
by the shoulder. * We'll see who's master of us two ! '

Stephen was forced to submit, and allowed himself to be
dragged to the study.

' Now ! ' said Loman shutting the door.

* Now ! ' said Stephen, as boldly as he could, and wonder-
ing what on earth was to become of him.

' Are you going to do what you're told, or not ?' demanded
Loman.

* Not what you tell me,' replied Stephen, promptly, but not
exactly cheerfully.

'Oh!' said Loman, his face becoming crimson, 'you're
quite sure ? '

'Yes/ said Stephen.

' Then take that ! ' said Loman.

It was a sharp box on the ears, suddenly administered.
Stephen recoiled a moment, but only a moment. He had
expected something a good deal worse. If that was all, he
would brave it out yet.

' Don't you hit me ! ' he said, defiantly.

Loman could not stand to be defied. His vanity was his
weak point, and nothing offended his vanity so much as to
find any one as determined as himself.

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE. 157

He took up a ruler, and in his passion flung it at the
luckless Stephen's head. It struck him hard on the cheek.
The blood flushed to the boy's face as he stood a moment
half stunned and smarting with the pain, confronting his
adversary. Then he rushed blindly in and flung himself
upon the bully.

Of course it was no match. The small boy was at the
mercy of the big one. The latter was indeed taken aback
for a moment at the fury of his young assailant, impotent
as it was, but that was all. He might have defended him-
self with a single hand ; he might have carried the boy
under one arm out into the passage. But the evil spirit
had been roused within him, and that spirit knew no
mercy. He struck out and fought his little foeman as if
he had been one of his own size and strength. For every
wild, feeble blow Stephen aimed, Loman aimed a hard and
straight blow back. If Stephen wavered, Loman followed
in as he would in a professional boxing match, and when at
last the small boy gave up, exhausted, bleeding, and scarcely
able to stand, his foe administered a parting blow, which, if
he had struck no other, would have stamped him as a coward
for ever.

* Now ! ' exclaimed Loman, looking down on his victim,
' will you do what you're told now, eh ? '

It was a critical moment for poor Stephen. After all, was
the 'strike' worth all this hardship? A single word would
have saved him ; whereas if he again defied his enemy, it
was all up with him.

He did waver a moment ; and lucky for him he did. For
just then the door opened, and Simon entered. Stephen
saw his chance. Slipping to the open door, he mustered
up energy to cry as loud as he could,

' No, I won't ; ' and with that made good his escape into
the passage, as done up as a small boy well could be without
being quite floored.

A dozen eager friends were at hand to aid in stopping

158 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

the bleeding of their hero's nose, and to apply raw steak to
his black eye. The story of his desperate encounter flew
on the wings of fame all over the school, and the glory and
pride of the youngsters reached its climax when, that after-
noon, Stephen with his face all on one side, his eye a bright
green and yellow, and his under lip about twice its ordinary
thickness, took his accustomed place in the arithmetic class
of the Fourth Junior.

' Why, Greenfield/ exclaimed Mr. Rastle, when in due
time the young hero's turn came to stand up and answer a
question, ' what have you been doing to yourself ? '

1 Nothing, sir/ remarked Stephen, mildly.

* How did you come by that black eye ? ' asked the master.
' Fighting, sir/ said Stephen, rather pompously.

' Ah ! what did you say forty-eight sixths was equal to ? '

This was Mr. Rastle's way. He very rarely hauled a boy
over the coals before the whole class.

But after the lesson he beckoned Stephen into his study.

' I'm afraid you got the worst of that fight/ he said.

Stephen, who by this time knew Mr. Rastle too well to
be afraid of him, and too well, also, not to be quite frank
with him, answered meekly,

' The fellow was bigger than me.'

* I should guess that by the state of your face. Now, I
don't want to know what the fight was about, though I dare
say you'd like to tell me [Stephen was boiling to tell him].
You small boys have such peculiar reasons for fighting, you
know, no one can understand them. 5

{ But this was because — '

' Hush ! Didn't I tell you I won't hear what it was
about, sir ! ' said Mr. Rastle, sharply. ' Did you shake
hands afterwards ? '

'No, I didn't, and I wofCtf exclaimed Stephen, for-
getting, in his indignation, to whom he was speaking.

'Then/ said Mr. Rastle, quietly, 'write me out one
hundred lines of Caesar, Greenfield ; and when you have

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE. 159

recollected how to behave yourself, we will talk more about
this. You can go.'

Mr. Rastle was a queer man ; he never took things
as one expected. When Stephen expected him to be
furious he was as mild as a lamb. There was no making
him out.

But this was certain : Stephen left his room a good deal
more crestfallen than he entered it. He had hoped to win
Mr. Rastle's sympathy and admiration by an account of his
grievances, and, instead of that, he was sent off in disgrace,
with an imposition for being rude, and feeling anything
but a hero.

Even the applause of his friends failed to console him
quite. Besides, his head ached badly, and the bruise on his
cheek, which he had scarcely felt among his other wounds,
now began to swell and grow painful. Altogether, he was
in the wars.

He was groaning over his imposition late that evening in
the class-room, feeling in dreadful dumps, and wishing he
had never come to St. Dominic's, when a hand laid on
his shoulder made him start. He looked up and saw
Mr. Rastle.

i Greenfield,' said the master, kindly, 'how much of your
imposition have you done ? '

* Seventy lines, sir.'

' Hum ! That will do this time. You had better get
to. bed.'

' Oh, sir ) ' exclaimed Stephen, moved far more by Mr.
Rastle's kind tone than by his letting him off thirty lines of
the Caesar, 'I'm so sorry I was rude to you.'

'Well, I was sorry, too; so we'll say no more about that.
Why, what a crack you must have got on your cheek ! '

1 Yes, sir ; that was the ruler did that.'

'The ruler! Then it wasn't a fair fight? Now don't
begin telling me all about it. I dare say you were very
heroic, and stood up against terrible odds. But you've a

160 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

very black eye and a very sore cheek now, so you had better
get to bed as fast as you can. 7

And certainly the pale, bruised, upturned face of the boy
did not look very bright at that moment.

Stephen Greenfield went off to bed that night in a per-
turbed state of mind and body. He had stuck loyally to
his promise not to fag, and he had earned the universal
admiration of his comrades. But, on the other hand, he

V

had been awfully knocked about, and, almost as bad, he
had been effectively snubbed by Mr. Rastle. He did not
exactly know what to think of it all. Had he done a fine
deed or a foolish one ? and what ought he to do to-morrow?

Like a sensible little man, he went sound asleep over these
questions, and forgot all about them till the morrow.

When he woke Stephen was like a giant refreshed. His
eye was certainly a rather more brilliant yellow than the
day before, and his cheek still wore a dull red flush. But
somehow he felt none of the misgivings and dumps that had
oppressed him the night before. He was full of hope again
and full of courage. The Guinea-pigs should never charge
him with treachery and desertion, and what he had gone
through already in the ( good cause ' he would go through
again.

With this determination he dressed and went down to
school. Loman, whose summons he expected every moment
to hear, did not put him to the necessity of a renewed
struggle. From all quarters, too, encouraging reports came
in from the various insurgents. Paul announced that
Greenfield senior took it * like a lamb ' ; Bramble recounted
how his ' nigger-driver/ as he was pleased to call Wren, had
chased him twice round the playground and over the top of
the cricket-shed without being able to capture him ; and
most of the others had exploits equally heroic to boast of.
Things were looking up in the Fourth Junior.

They spent a merry morning, these young rebels, wonder-
ing in whispers over their lessons what this and that Sixth

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE. 161

or Fifth Form fellow had done without them. With great
glee they imagined Raleigh blacking his own boots and
Pembury boiling his own eggs, and the very idea of such
wonders quite frightened them. At that rate St. Dominic's
would come to a standstill altogether.

' Serve 'em right ! ' said Bramble ; ' they want a lesson.
I wish I'd two fellows to strike against instead of one ! '

' One V enough if he strikes you back/ said Stephen, with
a rueful grin.

Master Bramble evinced his sympathy by laughing aloud.
' I say, you look just like a clown ; doesn't he, Padger,
with his eye all sorts of colours and his cheek like a house
on fire ? '

' All very well,' said Stephen ; ' I wish you'd got my
cheek.'

'Bramby's got cheek enough of his own, I guess/ put in
Paul ; whereat Master Bramble fired up, and a quarrel

became imminent.

However, Stephen prevented it by calling back attention
to his own picturesque countenance. *I don't mind the
eye, that don't hurt ; but I can tell you, you fellows, my
cheek's awful ! '

*I always said you'd got an awful cheek of your own,
young Greenfield/ said Bramble, laughing, as if he was the
inventor of the joke.

Stephen glowered at him.

'Well, you said so yourself/ put in Bramble, a little
mildly, for since Stephen's exploit yesterday that young
hero had advanced a good deal in the respect of his fellows.
1 But, I say, why don't you stick some lotion or something
on it? It'll never get right if you don't, will it, Padger?'

Padger suggested that young Greenfield might possibly
have to have his cheek cut off if he didn't look out, and
Paul said the sooner he ' stashed his cheek ' the better.

The result of this friendly and witty conference was that
Stephen took it into his head to cure his cheek, and to that

1 62 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

end applied for leave from Mr. Rastle to go down that
afternoon to Maltby to get something from the chemist.

Mr. Rastle gave him leave, and told him the best sort of
lotion to ask for, and so, as soon as afternoon school was
over, our young champion sallied boldly forth on his errand.
He felt very self-satisfied and forgiving to all the world as
he walked along. There was no doubt about it, he was a
hero. Every one seemed to take an interest in his black
eye and sore cheek, from Mr. Rastle downwards. Very
likely that fight of his with Loman yesterday would be
recorded as long as St. Dominic's remained, as the event
which saved the lower school from the tyranny of the
upper !

His way to the chemist's lay past the turning up to the

Cockchafer, and the idea occurred to him to turn in on the

*

way back and talk over the event of the hour with Mr.
Cripps, whom he had not seen since the bagatelle-lesson
a week ago. He was sure that good gentleman would
sympathise with him, and most likely praise him ; and in
any case it would be only civil, after promising to come and
see him sometimes, to look in.

The only thing was that the Cockchafer, whatever one
might say about it, was a public-house. The private door
at the side hardly sufficed to satisfy Stephen that he was not
breaking rules by going in. He would not have entered by
the public door for worlds, and the thought did occur to
him, Was there very much difference after all between one
door and the other ? However, he had not answered the
question before he found himself inside, shaking hands with
Mr. Cripps.

That gentleman was of course delighted, and profuse in
his gratitude to the * young swell ' for looking him up. He
listened with profound interest and sympathy to his story,
and made some very fierce remarks about what he would do
to ' that there ' Loman if he got hold of him. Then the
subject of bagatelle happened to come up, and presently

GUINEA-PIGS AND TADPOLES ON STRIKE. 163

Stephen was again delighting and astonishing the good
gentleman by his skill in that game. Then in due time it
came out that the boy's mother had bought him a bicycle,
and he was going to learn in the holidays, a resolution
Mr. Cripps highly approved of, and was certain a clever
young fellow like him would learn in no time, which greatly
pleased Stephen.

Before parting, Mr. Cripps insisted on lending his young
friend a lantern for his bicycle, when he rode it in the
dark. It was a specially good one, he said, and the young
gentleman could easily return it to him after the holidays,
and so on.

Altogether it was a delightful visit, and Stephen wondered
more than ever how some of the fellows could think ill of
Mr. Cripps.

'Oh, I say/ said the boy, at parting; 'don't do what
you said you would to Loman. I'm not afraid of him, you
know.'

' I'd like to knock his ugly head off for him ! ' cried Mr.
Cripps, indignantly.

' No, don't ; please don't ! I'd rather not. I dare say
he's sorry for it.'

'I'll see he is !' growled Mr. Cripps.

' Besides, I've forgiven him/ said Stephen, ( and oughtn't
to have told tales of him ; so mind you don't do it, Mr,
Cripps, will you ? '

' I'll see/ said Mr. Cripps. ' Good-bye for the present,
young gentleman, and come again soon.'

And so, at peace with all the world, and particularly with
himself, Stephen strolled back to St Dominic's, whistling
merrily.

( i64)

CHAPTER XVII.

THE DOCTOR AMONG THE GUINEA-PIGS.

THE Doi?iinican appeared once more before the holidays,
and, as might have been expected (besides its usual
articles at the expense of the Sixth Form), made itself par-
ticularly merry over the rebellion of the Guinea-pigs and
Tadpoles.

Pembury was not the fellow to give quarter in his own
particular line of attack ; and it must be confessed he had
the proud satisfaction of making his unfortunate young
victims smart.

The ' leading article ' of the present number bore the
suggestive title, ' Thank Goodness ! ' and began as follows :

' Thank goodness, we are at last rid of the pest which has
made St. Dominic's hideous for months past ! At a single
blow, with a single clap of the hands, we have sent Guinea-
pigs and Tadpoles packing, and can now breathe pure air.
No longer shall : we have to put up with the plague. We are
to be spared the disgust of seeing them, much more of
talking to them or hearing their hideous voices. No longer
will our morning milk be burned ; no longer will our herrings
be grilled to cinders ; no longer will our jam be. purloined ;
no longer will our books and door-handles be made abom-
inable by contact with their filthy hands ! Thank goodness !
The Doctor never did a more patriotic deed than this ! The
small animals are in future to be kept to their own quarters,
and will be forbidden the liberty they have so long abused

THE DOCTOR AMONG THE GUINEA-PIGS. 165

of mixing with their betters. It is as well for all parties ;
and if any event could have brightened the last days of this
term, it is this ' — and so on.

Before this manifesto, a swarm of youngsters puzzled on
the day of publication with no little bewilderment and fury.
They had refused to allow any of their number to act as
policeman, and had secretly been making merry over the
embarrassment of their late persecutors, and wondeiing
whatever they would be able to say for their humiliated
selves in the Dominican — and lo ! here was an article which,
if it meant anything, meant that the heroic rebellion of the
juniors was regarded not with dismay, but with positive
triumph, by the very fellows it had been intended to
' squash ! '

' What does it mean, Padger ? ' asked Bramble, who,
never much of a scholar, was quite unable to master the
meaning of this.

* It's all a pack of crams,' replied Padger, not quite sure of
the sense himself.

i It means,' said Stephen, ' the fellows say they are jolly
glad to get rid of us.'

' Eh ? ' yelled Bramble ; ( oh, I say, you fellows, come to
the meeting ! Jolly glad ! They aren't a bit glad. 7

' They say so,' said Paul. * Hold hard, Bramble, let's
read the rest.'

It was all his friends could do to restrain the ardent
Bramble from summoning a meeting on the spot to denounce
the Dominican and all its 'crams.' But they managed to
hold him steady while they read on.

1 The Doctor never did a more — pat — pat — ri — what do
you call it?— patriotic deed than this ! '

' Hullo, I say, look here ! ' cried Stephen, turning quite
yellow ; ' the Doctor's in it, they say, Bramble. " The small
animals "—that's you and Padger — '"are to be kept in their
own quarters." Whew ! there's a go."

' What ! ' shrieked Bramble, * who says so ? The Doctor

1 66 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

never said so. I shall do what I choose. He never said so.
Bother the Doctor ! Who's coming to the meeting, eh ? '

But at that moment the grave form of Doctor Senior
appeared in the midst of the group, just in time to hear
Master Bramble's last complimentary shout

The head master was in the most favourable times an
object of terror to the * guilty-conscienced youth ' of the
Fourth Junior, and the sight even of his back often sufficed
to quell their tumults. But here he stood face to face with
his unhappy victims, one of whom had just cried, * Bother the
Doctor ! ' and all of whom had by word and gesture approved
of the sentiment. Why would not the pavement yawn
and swallow them ? And which of them would not at that
moment have given a thousand pounds (if he had it) to be
standing anywhere but where he was ?

' Go to your class-room,' said the Doctor, sternly, eyeing
the culprits one by one, ' and wait there for me,'

They slunk off meekly in obedience to this order, and
waited the hour of vengeance in blank dismay.

Dr. Senior did not keep them long in suspense, how-
ever. His slow, firm step sounded presently down the
corridor, and at the sound each wretched culprit quaked
with horror.

Mr. Rastle was in the room, and rose as usual to greet his
chief; the boys also, as by custom bound, rose in their places.
' Good morning, Mr. Rastle,' said the Doctor. ' Are your
boys all here ? '

' Yes, sir, we have just called over. ;

' Ah ! And what class comes on first ? '

1 English literature, sir.'

* Well, Mr. Rastle, I will take the class this morning,
please — instead of you.'

A groan of horror passed through the ranks of the un-
happy Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles at these words. Bramble
looked wildly about him, if haply he might escape by a
window or lie hid in a desk ; while Stephen, Paul, Padger,

THE DOCTOR AMONG THE GUINEA-PIGS. 167

and the other ringleaders, gave themselves up for lost, and

mentally bade farewell to joy for ever.

' What have the boys been reading ? ' inquired Dr. Senior

of Mr. Rastle.

'Gray's Elegy, sir. We have just got through it.'

' Oh ! Gray's Elegy] said the Doctor ; and then, as if

forgetting where he was, he began repeating to himself,

( The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herds wind slowly o'er the lea.'

' The first boy, — what can you tell me about the curfew ? *
The first boy was well up in the curfew, and rattled off a

' full, true, and particular account ' of that fine old English

institution, much to everybody's satisfaction.
The Doctor went on repeating two or three verses till he

came to the line,

'The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.'

' What does that line mean ' he asked of a boy on the
second desk.

The boy scarcely knew what it meant?; but the boy
below him did, and was quite eager for the question to be
passed on. It was passed on, and the genius answered
promptly,

'Four old men.'

'Four rude old men,' shouted the next, seeing a chance.

'Four rude old men who used to sleep in church,' cried
another, ready to cap all the rest.

The Doctor passed the question on no further ; but
gravely explained the meaning of the line, and then pro-
ceeded with his repetition in rather a sadder voice.

Now and again he stopped short and demanded an
explanation of some obscure phrase, the answers to which
were now correct, now hazy, now brilliantly original. On
the whole it was not satisfactory ; and when for a change the
Doctor gave up reciting, and made the boys read, the effect

1 68 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

was still worse. One boy, quite a master of elocution,
spoilt the whole beauty of the lines,

'Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the Poor,'

F

by reading * animals ' instead of * annals ' ; while another, of
an equally zoological turn of mind, announced that

' On some fond beast the parting soul relies/

instead of ' breast/

But the climax of this ' animal mania ' was reached when
the wretched Bramble, finally pitched upon to go on, in spite
of all his efforts to hide, rendered the passage

* Haply some hoary-headed swain may say,
Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn/ etc.

as —

' Happy some hairy-headed swine may say.'

This was a little too much.

' That will do, sir/ said the Doctor, sternly. ' That will
do. What is your name, sir ? '

'Bramble, please, sir.'

' Well, Bramble, how long have you been in this class ? '

' Two years, sir/

* And have you been all the while on the bottom desk ? '

'Yes, please, sir.'

' Sir, it ofopleases me. You are a dunce, sir/

And then, to Bramble's utter despair and to the terror of
all the other unprofitable members of the class, the Doctor
proceeded to catechise sharply the unhappy youth on his
general knowledge of the subjects taught during the term.

As might be expected, the exhibition was a miserable one ;
Bramble was found wanting in every particular. The simplest
questions could hardly coax a correct answer out of him,
whereas an ordinary inquiry was hopelessly beyond his
powers. He mixed up William the Conqueror and William
of Orange ; he subtracted what ought to be multiplied, and

THE DOCTOR AMONG THE GUINEA-PIGS. 169

floundered about between conjunctions and prepositions in a
sickening way. The Doctor did not spare him. He went
ruthlessly on — exposing the boy's ignorance, first in one
thing, then another. Bramble stood and trembled and
perspired before him, and wished he was dead, but the
questions still came on. If he had answered a single thing
correctly it would have been a different matter, but he knew
nothing. I believe he did know what twice two was, but
that was the one question the Doctor did not ask him. As
to French, Latin, Grammar, and Euclid, the clock on the
wall knew as much of them as Bramble.
It came to an end at last.

'Come here, Bramble/ said the Doctor, gravely; 'and
come here, you, and you, and you/ added he, pointing to
Stephen and Paul and four or five others of the party who
had been reading the Dominican that morning.

The luckless youngsters obeyed, and when they stood in
a row before the dreaded Doctor, the bottom form and half
of the bottom form but one were empty.

' Now, you boys,' began the head master, very gravely, ' I
hadn't intended to examine you to-day; but, from some-
thing I heard one of you say, I felt rather anxious to know
how some of you are doing in your studies. These half-
dozen boys I was particularly anxious to know of, because
I heard them talking to-day as if they were the most im-
portant boys in the whole school. They are the most
important ; for they are the most ignorant, and require, and
in future will receive, the closest looking after. You, little boys,'
said the Doctor, turning to the row of abashed culprits, ' take
a word of warning from me. Do not be silly as well as dunces.
Do not think, as long as you know least of any one in the
school you can pretend to rule the school. I hope some of you
have been led to see to-day you are not as clever as you would
like to be. If you try, and work hard, and stick like men
to your lessons, you will know more than you do now ; and
when you do know more you will see that the best way for

170 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

little boys to get on is not by giving themselves ridiculous
airs, but by doing their duty steadily in class, and living at
peace with one another, and submitting quietly to the
discipline of the school. Don't let me hear any more of
this recent nonsense. You'll be going off in a day or two
for the holidays. Take my advice, and think over what I
have said ; and next term let me see you in your right
minds, determined to work hard and do your part honestly
for the credit of the good old school. Go to your places,
boys.'

And so the Doctor's visitation came to an end. It made a
very deep impression on the youthful members of the Fourth
Junior. Most of them felt very much ashamed of them-
selves ; and nearly every one felt his veneration and ad-
miration for the Doctor greatly heightened. Only a few
incorrigibles like Bramble professed to make light of the
scene through which they had just passed, and even he, it

was evident, was considerably chastened by his experience.
That evening, after the first bed bell, Dr. Senior requested
some of the masters to meet with him for a few minutes in
his study.

* Do any of you know/ asked the head master, * anything
about this newspaper, the Dominican, which I see hanging
outside the Fifth door ? '

* I hear a great many boys talking about it, 1 said Mr.
Jellicott of the Fifth. ' It is the joint production of several
of the boys in my form.'

' Indeed ! A Fifth form paper ! ' said the Doctor. ' Has
any one perused it ? '

' 1 have,' said Mr. Rastle. ' It seems to me to be
cleverly managed, though perhaps a little personal.'

'Ah, only natural with schoolboys,' said the Doctor. ( I
should like to see it. Can you fetch it, Rastle ? '

4 It is nailed to the wall,' said Mr. Rastle, smiling, ' like
Luther's manifesto ; but I can get one of the boys, I dare
say, to unfasten it for you.'

THE DOCTOR AMONG THE GUINEA-PIGS. 171

* No, do not do that,' said the Doctor. t ' If the mountain
will not come to Mahomet, you know, Mahomet and his
disciples must go to the mountain, eh, Mr. Harrison ? I
think we might venture out and peruse it where it hangs. 7
So half-stealthil3 T , when the whole school was falling asleep,
Dr. Senior and his colleagues stepped out into the passage,
and by the aid of a candle satisfied their curiosity as to the
mysterious Dominican.

A good deal of its humour was, of course, lost upon them,
as they could hardly be expected to understand the force of
all the allusions it contained. But they saw quite enough
to enable them to gather the general tenor of the paper j it
amused and it concerned them.

' It shows considerable ability on the part of its editor/
said the Doctor, after the masters had returned to his study,
' but I rather fear its tone may give offence to some of the
boys — in the Sixth for instance.'

' I fancy there is a considerable amount of rivalry between
the two head forms/ said Mr. Harrison.

'If there is/ said Mr. Jellicott, 'this newspaper is hardly
likely to diminish it.'

'And it seems equally severe on the juniors/ said Mr.
Rastle.

'Ah/ said the Doctor, smiling, »' about that "strike." I
can't < understand that. Really the politics of your little
world, Rastle, are too intricate for any ordinary mortal.
But I gather the small boys have a grievance against the
big ones ? '

' Yes, on the question of fagging, I believe.'

' Oh ! ' said the Doctor. ' I hope that is not coming up.
You know I'm heretic .enough to believe that a certain
amount of fagging does not do harm in a school like ours.'

' Certainly not/ said Mr. Jellicott. ' But these small boys
are really very amusing. They appear to be regularly
organised, and some of them have quite a martyr spirit
about them.'

172 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' As I can testify/ said Mr. Rastle, proceeding to recount the
case of Stephen Greenfield and his sore cheek. The Doctor
listened to it all, half gravely, half amused, and presently said :

* Well, it is as well the holidays are coming. Things are
sure to calm down in them ; and next term I dare say we
shall be all the wiser for the lessons of this. Meanwhile I
should like to see the editor of this paper to-morrow. Who
is he, Jellicott ? '

' I believe it is Pembury.'

' Very well. Send him to me, will you, to-morrow at ten ?
Good night. Thank you for your advice I '

6 Next morning the Doctor talked to Pembury about the
Dominican. He praised the paper generally, and con-
gratulated him on the success of his efforts. But he took
exception to its personal tone.

' As long as you can keep on the broad round of humour
and pure fun, nothing can please us more than to see you
improving your time in a manner like this. But you must
be very careful to avoid what will give pain or offence to

any section of your schoolfellows. I was sorry to see in
the present number a good deal that might have been well
omitted of that kind. Remember this, Pembury, I want all
you boys, instead of separating off one set from another,
and making divisions between class and class, to try to make
common cause over the whole school, and unite all the
boys in common cause for the good of St. Dominic's. Now
your paper could help not a little in this direction. Indeed,
if it does not help, it had better not be issued. There ! I
shall not refer to the matter again unless you give me cause.
I do not want to discourage you in your undertaking, for it's
really an excellent idea, and capitally carried out. And
verbum sap, you know, is quite sufficient.'

Anthony, with rather a long face, retired from the Doctor's
presence.

A few days later the school broke up for the summer
holidays.

f 173 )

CHAPTER XVIII.

w

A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE.

HEN a big school like St. Dominic's is gathered
together within the comparatively narrow compass
of four walls, there is some possibility of ascertaining how
it prospers, and what events are interesting it. But when
the same school is scattered to the four winds of heaven
during the holidays, it would require a hundred eyes and
more to follow its movements.

It would be impossible, for instance, at one and the same
time to accompany Raleigh and his sisters up Snowdon, and
look on at Bramble catching crabs on the rocks at Broad-
stairs ; nor, while we follow Dr. Senior among the peaks
and passes of Switzerland (and remark, by the way, what a
nice quiet boy Tom Senior is, when he has only his father
and his mother to tempt him into mischief) can we possibly
expect to regard very attentively the doings of Simon, as he
gapes about before the London shop-windows, and jerks off
a score or more stanzas of his ' Hart's Earnings/ which is
now about a quarter done.

So the reader must imagine how most of the boys spent
their holidays, how they enjoyed them, and how they
behaved themselves during the period, and be content to be
told only about two groups of holiday-makers, about whom,
as they are destined to figure pretty conspicuously in next
term's doings at St. Dominic's, it will be interesting to hear
rather more particularly now.

174 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

And the first group — if we can call a single person, a
'group ' — is Loman.

Loman began his holidays in anything but cheerful spirits.
No one had seemed particularly sorry to say good-bye to
him at St. Dominic's, and a good many had been un-
mistakably glad. And he had quite enough on his mind,
apart from this, to make his home-coming far less joyous
than it might have been. It ought to have been the happiest
event possible, for he was coming home to parents who
loved him, friends who were glad to see him, and a home
where every comfort and pleasure was within his reach.
Few boys, indeed, were more blessed than Loman with all
the advantages of a Christian and happy home ; and few
boys could have failed to return to such a home after a long
absence without delight. But to Loman, these holidays, the
surroundings of home afforded very little pleasure. His mind
was ill at ease. The burden of debt was upon him, and the
burden of suspense. He had tried hard to assure himself
that all would come right — that he would certainly win the
scholarship, and so wipe off the debt ; but his confidence
became less and less comfortable as time went on.

He dared not tell his troubles to his father, for he feared
his upbraiding ; and he would not confess them to his mother,
for she, he knew, would tell all to his father. He still clung
to the hope that all would come right in the end ; and then
what would have been gained by telling his parents all
about it?

The one thing was hard work — and Loman came home

r

determined to work. His parents saw him out of spirits,
and were concerned. They did what they could to cheer
him, but without much success.

'Come, Edward, put away your books to-day,' .his mother
would say ; ' I want you to drive me over to Falkham in
the pony-chaise.'

' I really can't, mother ; I must work for the scholarship.'
' Nonsense, boy ; what is a scholarship compared with

A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE. 175

your health ? Besides, you'll work all the better if you take
some exercise.'

But for a week nothing could tempt him out. Then, in-
stead of accompanying his father or mother, he would take
long solitary rides on his own pony, brooding all the while
over his troubles.

One day, when in the course of one of these expeditions
he had taken the direction of Maltby — which was only
fifteen miles distant from his home — he became suddenly
aware of an approaching dog-cart in the road before him,
and a familiar voice crying,

' Why, if it ain't young Squire Loman, riding a bit of very
tidy horseflesh too, as I'm a Dutchman ! '

It was Cripps. What evil spirit could have brought him
on the scene now?

'Well, I never reckoned to see you now,' said he, in his
usual jaunty manner. ' Fact is, I was just trotting over to
see you. I wanted to try what this here cob was made of,
and, thinks I, I may as well kill two birds with one stone,
and look up my young squire while I'm about it'

' Coming to see me ! ' exclaimed Loman, horrified. ' I
say, Cripps, you mustn't do that. My father would be very
angry, you know.'

' Nice, that is ! As if I wasn't as good company as any
one else ! '

( Oh ! it's not that/ said Loman, fearing he had given
offence. ' What I mean is — '

'Oh, I know — about that there rod. Bless me ! I won't
let out on you, my beauty — leastways, if you come up to
scratch. He'd like to hear the story, though, the old gentle-
man, I fancy. Wouldn't he now ? '

' I wouldn't have him know it for worlds. It'll be all
right, Cripps, indeed it will about the money.'

Mr. Cripps looked very benignant.

( All right, young swell, I hope it will. Funny I feel such
an interest in you, 'specially since that young greeny friend

176 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

of yours put in a word for you. He's a real nice sort, he is
— he owes you one, and no mistake/

' What ! ' said Loman, in surprise ; ' who do you mean ?
Young Greenfield ? '

' To be sure. Regular young chum of mine, he is. I
know all about you, my master, and no mistake ! '

( What — the young sneak ? What has he been saying
about me?'

1 Eh ! — what ain't he been saying ! In course you didn't
half murder him, eh ? In course you ain't a good hand at
cheatin' all round up at the school ! What ? In course you
ain't saying nice things agin me all over the place — and in
course some of us wouldn't like to see you get a reg'lar good
hiding, wouldn't we ? Bless you, I knows all about it ; but
I'm mum, never fear ! '
Loman was furious.

' The young liar ! ' he exclaimed. ' I did owe him one ;
I'll pay him when we get back ! '

1 Hold hard, young gentleman/ said Cripps, coolly. ' To
be sure, he ain't downright sweet on you ; but I ain't a-going
to have him smashed, mind, all to bits. Well, never mind
that. I'll turn back with you, young gentleman, if I may.
We're only three miles from Maltby, and maybe you'll
honour a poor chap like me by having a look in at the
Cockchafer.'

Loman did not know how to say ' No,' much as he dis-
liked and feared his host. He returned with him to Maltby,
and there spent an hour in the Cockchafer. He was intro-
duced to several of Mr. Cripps's low friends, in whose
society he found it easy enough to become low himself.
Cripps, by a judicious mixture of flattery and sly threats,
managed to keep the boy well in hand, and when at last he
rose to go it was with a promise to return again before the
holidays were over — ' to prevent Cripps having the trouble
of calling on him/ as that virtuous gentleman significantly
put it.

A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE. 177

Loman kept his promise, and visited Maltby once or
twice, becoming each time more familiar with Cripps and
his low friends, who made a great deal of him, and flattered
him on all possible occasions, so that the boy presently
found himself, as he imagined, quite a young hero at the
Cockchafer.

Meanwhile, naturally, his reading fell behindhand. His
parents, only too glad to see their boy taking more regular
exercise, never suspected or inquired as to the direction of
his frequent solitary rides. To them he seemed the same
quiet, clever boy they fondly believed him. Little guessed
they of the troubles that filled his breast or the toils that
were daily enwrapping him !

Thus Loman's holidays came to an end. The farewell
was once more said, parents and son parted, and on the first
day of an eventful term the boy found himself once more
within the walls of St. Dominic's.

Oliver and Stephen, meanwhile, had been spending a
very different sort of holiday at home. There was high
feast and revelry when the two boys returned once more to
the maternal roof. Stephen for once in a way had the
satisfaction of finding himself a most unmistakable hero.
He never tired telling of his adventures and discoursing
on the whole manner of his life since the day he left home
for St. Dominic's. To his sister he recounted in all the
slang phraseology he had at his command, the famous
cricket matches in which he had borne a part ; and she,
though it was exactly like Greek to her, drank in every word
with interest. And to his mother he narrated his various
fights with Bramble, and the terrific adventures through
which he had passed, till the good lady's hair nearly stood
on end, and she began to think a public school was a terrible
place to send a small boy to.

Oliver, of course, had his stories to tell too, only in a
more sober manner.

There was a great scene when, on the first day of the

178 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S. ■

holidays, the elder brother produced his books and an-
nounced that he must study at least two hours a day in
prospect of the Nightingale Scholarship examination. But
every one knew how much depended on his winning
that scholarship, and in a few years being able to go to the
university, so that the family gave in in the end, and Oliver

was allowed his two hours' study, but not a second more, every
day. Stephen, meanwhile, taught his sister round-arm
bowling, and devoted himself mind and body to the
bicycle.

The two brothers, during these holidays, became very
great cronies. At school Oliver had seen comparatively
little of his young brother, but now they were daily and
hourly thrown together, the brotherly instincts in each
blossomed wonderfully, and a mutual attachment sprang up
which had hardly been there before.

It had been arranged, before breaking up, that Oliver and
Wraysford should spend the last week of the holiday to-
gether in rowing down the Thames from Oxford to London.

Great was Stephen's joy and pride when one morning,
near the appointed time, Oliver said to him,

( Look here, Stee. How would you like to come with
Wray and me next week ? '

'Like! wouldn't I rather!' shouted the small" boy in
ecstasy. ' Thanks, Noll, old man ! I say, it will be a spree.'
And the youngster became so riotous over the prospect that
his elder brother had to threaten not to take him at all, and
give him a thrashing into the bargain, before he could be
reduced to order.

They were to take a tent with them, and cooking utensils,
so as to be quite independent of inns, and each voyager was
to contribute his share of provender. Quite a Robinson
Crusoe business, even down to the desert island, for on
desert islands the boys had declared they intended every
night to take up their quarters, and, come hail, snow, or
lightning, there to sleep under their waterproof tent.

A HOLIDA V ADVENTURE. 179

Mrs. Greenfield didn't half like the idea, and became very
pathetic on the subject of ague and rheumatic fever. But
the boys carried the day by promising faithfully that they
would catch neither malady. The looked-for day came at
last, and to Oxford they went, where the familiar sight of
Wraysford, in boating costume, at the railway station still
further elated their high spirits. The boat was ready. The
tent, the provender, the blankets, were snugly stowed away
on board. The weather was fine, the river was charming,
everything promised well ; and punctually that Monday
afternoon the three adventurers loosed from their moorings
and turned the nose of their boat towards London.

I wish I could tell the reader all the events of that
wonderful voyage : how they paddled down merrily with the
stream ; how they found their desert island covered with
nettles, which they had to mow down with their oars ; how
the soup-kettle wouldn't act, and the stew-pan leaked ; how
grand the potted lobster tasted ; how Stephen offered to
make tea with muddy water, and how the paraffin oil of
their lanterns leaked all over their plum-cake and sandwiches ;
how Stephen was sent up inland to forage, and came back
with wonderful purchases of eggs and milk ; how they
started off one day leaving their tent behind them, and had
to row" back in a panic to recover it ; how it rained one
night, and a puddle formed on the roof of the tent, which
presently grew so big that it overflowed and gave Wraysford
a shower-bath ; how each morning they all took headers
into the stream, much to the alarm of the sleepy ducks ;
how they now and then ran foul of a boat, and now and
then were turned off their camping ground by an indignant
keeper ! It was glorious fun. But it would take a volume

to recount all that happened to them.

They were coming near the end of their cruise. They
had paddled down past the magnificent woods of Cliefden,
and under the pretty bridge of Maidenhead ; they had
watched the boys bathing at 'Athens,' and they had rowed

180 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

through the gloomy shadow of Windsor Castle and on past
Eton.

Here the river is broken by a string of islands, which in
many parts make the stream narrow ; and the river being
full of boats and barges, our three adventurers found them-
selves called upon to exercise more than ordinary pre-
cautions in keeping their course. This responsibility
became at last so irksome that Oliver said,

' I say, can't we get out of this rabble anyhow? Why
shouldn't we take the other side of the islands ? '

( I don't know. It would be a good deal quieter. I
wonder none of the boats do it/

' Let's try, anyhow. We can't be far from the lock, and
then the river will be wider. Take us up inside the next
island, Stee, and mind you don't foul any one while you're
about it.'

Stephen did as he was bid. The stream was pretty strong
just there, and the two rowers had to pull pretty hard to get
round without drifting on to the island.

Once out of the main stream, they were delighted to find
the course clear. Indeed, they had the channel all to
themselves.

* What a jolly pace the stream is going at ! ' said Stephen ;
'why don't you drift, you fellows, instead of pulling like
that ? '

' Good idea for you, young 'un,' said Wraysford, pulling
in his oar. Oliver followed his example.

( Keep a look-out ahead,' said he to Stephen, ' and sing
out if anything's coming.'

Stephen said, ' All right,' but (careless pilot that he was)
began pulling on his socks and shoes, which he had dis-
pensed with during the morning.

Thus occupied, and the other two'sitting with their backs
to the prow, the unnatural pace at which the boat flew along
did not for a moment or two become apparent. Suddenly,
however, Wraysford started up.

A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE. 181

1 Get out your oar, Noll — quick ! '

' What's the row ? ' said Oliver, proceeding leisurely to

obey the order.

'The weir! Quick, man, quick, or we shall be on to

it! 5

They had indeed got into the race leading to the weir,
and every moment the stream, swelled by recent rains,
rushed faster.

* Pull your right — hard ! ' cried Wraysford, backing water
while Oliver flew to his oar.

There was just time, by a tremendous effort, to save them-
selves ; but Oliver's oar was caught under one of the seats,
and before he could extricate it the precious opportunity was
lost.

No one said a word. Stephen, with pale face, pulled his
rudder string ; and Wraysford, with his one oar, tried des-
perately to arrest the headlong progress of the boat.

There was a shout from the bank, and a nearer and louder
one from the lock. They became conscious of a great half-
open gate on their right, and a rush of footsteps beside them.
Then, in far shorter time than it takes to write it, the boat,
side on to the weir, lurched and dashed for a moment in the
troubled water, and the next instant turned over, and the
three boys were struggling in the water.

In an ordinary current such an adventure would have
been of little moment, for the boys could swim. But in
a torrent like this it was an awful peril. The swift flood
sweeps on and sucks under its prey with fearful force. To
resist it is impossible — to escape being dashed against its
stony bottom is almost as impossible.

Mercifully for Oliver, he did escape this latter peril, and,
being cool always in the presence of danger, he offered no
resistance to the stream, but struck out hard under the water
for as long as his breath would permit.

When at last, exhausted and unable to swim farther, he
rose to the surface, he was in calm deep water many yards

1 82 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

below the weir. Help was at hand, or he could never have
reached the bank. As it was, when at last friendly arms did
drag him ashore, he was too exhausted even to utter his
brother's name.

Where was Stephen? and where was Wraysford?

Wraysford had been more fortunate even than Oliver in
his first capsize. He was swept over the weir, indeed, but
into a side eddy which brought him up violently against a
projecting branch, to which he clung wildly. Here he
would have [been safe, and even able to help himself to
shore. But at the moment when he began to draw himself
up from the water on to the branch, there was something — ■
an arm cast wildly up — in the water beside him. In an
instant Wraysford quitted his hold and plunged once more
into the rapid. How, he knew not, but he just reached the
hapless boy. It was too late to recover the friendly branch.
All he could do was to cling to Stephen and trust to reach-
ing calm water safely. Many a bruise the two received in
that terrible passage, but the elder boy never once quitted
his hold of the younger.

At last — it seemed an age — calm water was reached,
providentially near the bank. Still clinging to one another,
they were pulled ashore, bruised, stunned, but safe.

Thus ended this famous holiday cruise. The three boys
kept their own secret, and talked little about the adventure,
even to one another.

In due time the holidays ended, and the Dominicans re-
assembled once more in their venerable Alma Mater. Need
I say there were three within those walls who, whatever they
were before, were now friends bound together by a bond the
closest of all — a bond which had stood the test of life and
death ?

(183)

CHAPTER XIX.

AN OLD FIRE RE-KINDLED.

T. DOMINIC'S reassembled after the holidays in an
amiable frame of mind.

The Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles, as the Doctor had pro-
phesied, had cooled down considerably in spirit during the
period, and now returned quietly to work just as if the
mighty * strike ' had never existed. Stephen's regular fights
with Bramble recommenced the very first day, so that
everything was quite like old times.

Oliver found that the Fifth, all but one or two, had quite
forgotten their suspicions of his bravery which had spoiled
the pleasure of his last term, and there seemed every
prospect of his getting through this with less risk to his
quick temper than before.

As for the Sixth, the Fifth had forgiven them all their
offences, and would have been quite prepared, had it been
allowed, to live in peace with their seniors, and forget all the
dissensions of the Summer term. But it was not allowed,
and an event which happened early in the term served to
revive all the old animosities between the two head classes.

At St. Dominic's, for reasons best known to the all-wise
beings who presided over its management, the principal
examinations and ' removes ' of the year took place not, as
in most schools, at the end of the Midsummer term, but at
the beginning of the Autumn term, about Michaelmas ; con-
sequently now,with the examinations looming in the distance,

1 84 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

everybody who had anything to hope for from hard work
settled down to study like mad. Cricket was over for the
year, and football had not begun. Except boating there was
not much doing out of doors, and for that reason the season
was favourable for work. Studies, which used to be bear-
gardens now suddenly assumed an appearance of respecta-
bility and quiet. Books took the place of boxing-gloves,
and pens of fencing-sticks. The disorderly idlers who had
been in the habit of invading at will the quarters of the
industrious were now given to understand they must ' kick
up their heels ' elsewhere. They might not want to grind,
but others did.

The idlers of the Fifth, to whom this warning was
addressed on every hand, had nothing for it but to obey,
and, feeling themselves greatly ill-used, to retire sadly, to
some spot where ' they could kick up a row to themselves.'

Casting about them for such a spot, it happened that
Braddy and Ricketts one day lit almost by accident on an
old empty study, which some years since had been a
monitor's room, but was now empty and tenantless.

It at once occurred to these two astute heroes that this
would be a magnificent place for boxing»-matches. In the
other studies one was always banging against the corners of
tables, or tripping over fenders, but here there was absolutely
nothing, but four bare walls to interfere with anybody.

They called in two more friends — Tom Senior and
another — who declared it was a splendid find, and the four
thereupon took formal possession of their new territory, and
inaugurated the event by a terrific eight-handed match.

Nothing could have been more satisfactory. The room
was well out of the way ; the studious ones of the Fifth
were spared all annoyance, and the riotous ones had an
asylum to go to. No one was a bit the worse for the move ;
every one, on the contrary, found himself decidedly the
better.

' Go and kick up a row in the monitor's room,* became

AN OLD FIRE RE-KINDLED. 185

quite a common objurgation in the Form % among the diligent ;
as common, in fact, as 'Come along, old man, and have it
out in the monitor's room,' was among the idlers.

But, as ill-luck would have it, this delightful retreat
happened to be situated immediately over the study occupied
by Wren of the Sixth. That worthy hero, seated one after-
noon over his books, was startled by a terrific noise, followed
by a vibration, followed by the rattling of all his tumblers in
the cupboard, followed by a dull, heavy thud over his head,
which tempted him to believe either that an earthquake was
in progress, or that one of the chimney-stacks had fallen on
to the roof. When, however, the noise was repeated, and
with it were blended laughter and shouts of 'Now then, let
him have it ! ' ' Well parried ! ' ' Bravo, Bully ! ' and the
like, Wren began to change his mind, and laid down his pen.

He walked up the stairs to the upper landing, where, at
once, the noise guided him to the old monitor's room.
Then the truth dawned upon him. He stayed long enough
to get a pretty clear idea of who the ' new lodgers ' were,
and then prudently retired without attempting a parley

single-handed.

But next morning, when the festive rioters of the Fifth
approached once more the scene of their revels, what was
their amazement and rage to find the door locked, and the fol-
lowing notice, on a piece of school paper, affixed to the panel —

' Monitor's room. This room is closed by direction of the
monitors.'

You might have knocked them over with a feather, so
stupefied were they by this announcement ! They stared at
the door, they stared at one another, and then they broke
out into a tempest of rage.

'The blackguards! what do they mean?' exclaimed Braddy,
tearing down the paper and crushing it up in his hands.

'Monitor's room, indeed!' cried Ricketts. ' We'll let
them see whose room it is ! *

4 Kick open the door, can't you?' said Tom Senior.

1 86 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S %

They did kick open the door between them. The lock
was a weak one, and' soon gave way.

Once inside, the evicted ones indulged their triumph by
an uproar of more than usual vehemence, longing that it
might tempt into their clutches the daring intruders who had
presumed to interfere with their possession. No one came.
They had their fling undisturbed. But before they quitted
their stronghold one of their number, by diligent searching,
had found in the lock of a neighbouring study-door a key
which would fit theirs. Repairing, therefore, the catch,
damaged by their late forcible entry, they calmly locked the
door behind them when they went, and affixed to it, in the
identical place where the other notice had hung, ' Fifth Form.
Private study. Not to be entered without permission.'

Of course, the news of this interesting adventure soon
spread, and for a day or two the diligent as well as the idle
on either side looked on with increasing interest for the
issue of the contest.

For a while the Fifth had the best of it. They defied the
enemy to turn them out, and procured and fixed an additional
lock on the door. The Sixth threatened to report the matter
to the Doctor, and summoned the invaders for the last time
to capitulate. The invaders laughed them to scorn, and
protested the room belonged to them, and leave it they
would not for all the monitors in the world. The monitors
retired, and the Fifth enjoyed their triumph.

But next day the Doctor abruptly entered the Fifth Form

room, and said, * There is an unoccupied room at the end of
the top landing, which some boys in this class have been
making use of to the annoyance of other boys. This
room, please remember, is not to be entered in future without
my permission.'

Checkmate with a vengeance for the Fifth !

This event it was which, trivial in itself, re-kindled once
more with redoubled heat the old animosity between the
two head Forms at St. Dominic's. Although the original

AN OLD FIRE RE-KINDLED. 187

quarrel had been confined to only half-a-dozen individuals,
it became now a party question of intense interest. The
Sixth, who were the triumphant party, could afford to treat
the matter lightly and smile over it, a demeanour which
irritated the already enraged Fifth past description. The
two Forms cut one another dead in the passages. The
Fifth would gladly have provoked their rivals to blows, but,
like sensible men, the Sixth kept the right side of the law,
and refused to have anything to do with the challenges daily
hurled at them.

As might be expected, the affair did not long remain a
secret from the rest of the school. The Fourth Senior, as
a body, stood up for the Sixth, and the Third and Second,
on the whole, sided with the Fifth. But when it came to
the junior school — the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles — all other

F

partisanship was thrown quite into the shade.

The quarrel was one completely after their own hearts.
It had begun in a row, it had gone on in a row, and, if it
ever ended, it would end in a row.

A meeting was summoned at the earliest opportunity to
take the momentous matter into consideration.

* What I say/ said Bramble, ( is, it's a jolly good job ! '

* What's a jolly good job ? ' demanded Stephen, who, of
course, was red-hot for the Fifth.

' Why, chucking them out ! I'm glad to see it, ain't you,
Padger ? '

' They didn't chuck them out ! ' roared Paul ; ' they went
and sneaked to the Doctor, that's what they did ! '

'1 don't care ! I say it's a jolly good job ! Those who
say it's a jolly good job hold up — '

' Shut up your row ! ' cried Stephen ; ' you're always
sticking yourself up. I say it's a beastly shame, and I hope
the Fifth will let them know it ! '

( You're a young idiot, that's what you are ! ' exclaimed
Bramble in a rage. * What business have you got at the
meeting ? Turn him out ! '

1 88 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

i I'll turn you out ! ' replied the undaunted Stephen ; ' I've
as much right here as you have. So there ! '

4 Turn him out, can't you ? ' roared Bramble. ' Bah !
who goes and swills ginger-beer down in a public-house in
the town, eh ? '

This most unexpected turn to the conversation startled
Stephen. He turned quite pale as he replied, * / did, there !
But I didn't go in at the public door. And you've been
sneaking ! '

* No, I haven't. Padger told me, didn't you, Padger ?
Padger peeped through the door, and saw you. Oh, my
eye ! won't I kick up a shine about it ! I'll let out on you,
see if I don't. Bah, public -house boy ! potboy, yah ! '

Stephen's only answer to this was a book, accurately
shied at the head of his enemy.

The subsequent proceedings at the meeting were a trifle
animated, but otherwise not interesting to the reader. The
chief result was that the Guinea-pigs emerged as uncom-
promising champions for the Fifth, and the Tadpoles equally
strong for the Sixth, while Stephen felt decidedly uncom-
fortable as to the consequences of Bramble's discovery of
his secret visits last term to the Cockchafer.

Stephen had in a confidential moment during the holidays
told Oliver of these visits, and of his intimacy with Mr.
Cripps. The elder brother was very angry and astonished
when he heard of it. He set before the boy, in no measured
terms, the risk he was running by breaking one of the rules
of the school ; and, more than that, he said Cripps was a
blackguard, and demanded of Stephen a promise, there and
then, that he would never again enter the Cockchafer under
any pretext whatever. Stephen, forced to submit, although
not convinced that Cripps was such a wicked man as his
brother made out, promised, but reserved to himself men-
tally the right to see Cripps at least once more at the Lock
House, there to return him the bicycle lantern, which it
will be remembered that kind gentleman had lent the boy

AN OLD FIRE RE-KINDLED. 189

before the holidays. As to the Cockchafer, he was thoroughly
frightened at the thought of having been seen there, and
fully determined, even before Bramble's threat, never again
to cross its threshold. After all, Stephen knew he had little
enough to fear from that small braggadocio ; Bramble had
neither the wit nor the skill to use his discovery to any
advantage. For a day or two he followed his adversary up
and down the passages with cries of ' Potboy ! ' till every-
body was sick of the sound, and felt heartily glad when, one
fine afternoon, Stephen quietly deposited his adversary on
his back on the gravel of the playground.

But to return to the feud between Fifth and Sixth.

Things after a little seemed to quiet down once more.
The exiled rioters, after a long and disheartening search,
found rest for the soles of their feet in Tom Senior's study,
which, though not nearly so convenient, afforded them
asylum during their pugilistic encounters.

The studious ones settled down once more to their
work, and the near approach of the examinations presently
absorbed all their attention.

The struggle for the Nightingale Scholarship naturally
was regarded with the most intense interest — not because
it was the most important examination of the year : it was
not. Not because it was worth ^50 a year for three years.
That to most of the school was a minor consideration. It
was as nothing to the fact that of the three candidates for
the scholarship one was a Sixth Form boy and two Fifth.
If only one of the latter could come out first, the Fifth and
their partisans, all the school over, felt that the insult of the
past month would be wiped out, and the glory of the Form
avenged for ever. And it must be confessed that the
Sixth, however much they professed to ignore the rivalry of
their juniors, were equally anxious for their own man, and
of late Loman had been working hard. He had worked,
so it was reported, during the holidays, and now, ever since
term had begun, he had remained more or less secluded in

190 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

his study, or else, with a book under his arm, had taken

walks outside.

Of course, the Sixth Form boy would win ! Who ever
heard of a Fifth boy beating a Sixth ? And yet, in Oliver
and Wraysford, the Fifth, every one admitted, had two
strong men. They would at least make a hard fight for the
prize. The Sixth only hoped they would not run their man
too close, and so make the glory of his certain victory at all
doubtful.

Loman was not a favourite even with his own class-fellows,
but they could forgive anything now, provided he made sure
of the Nightingale.

' He'll be all right ! ' said Callonby to Wren one day,
when the two happened to hit on the topic of the hour ;
' he's a great deal steadier than he was last term.'

1 1 wish he'd read indoors, then, and not be everlastingly
trotting out with his books.'

' Oh ! I don't know ; it's much jollier reading out of
doors, if you can do it.'

' As long as he does read. Well, it will be a regular sell
if he comes to grief; the Fifth will be intolerable.'
* They're not far short of that now. Hullo ! '
This exclamation was provoked by the sight of Loman in
the playground under their window. He was returning
from one of his studious rambles, with his book under his
arm, slowly making for the school.

There was nothing in this to astonish the two boys as
they looked down. What did astonish them was that he
was walking unsteadily, with a queer, stupid look on his face,
utterly unlike anything his schoolfellows had ever seen there
before. They watched him cross the playground and enter
the school-house. Then Wren said, gravely, ' It's all up
with the Nightingale, at that rate.'

' Looks like it,' said the other, and walked away.
Loman was returning from one of his now frequent visits
to the Cockchafer.

( i9i )

CHAPTER XX.

T

A CRISIS.

HE eventful day, which at the beginning of the term
had seemed an age away, slowly but surely drew near.

This was Saturday. On Monday the examination would be
over, and in a week the competitors would know their fates !

Some of my readers may know the queer sensation one
sometimes gets at the approach of a long-looked-for and
hardly-worked-for examination. For a week or so you have
quietly been counting up what you do know. Now there
breaks upon you an awful picture of what you do not know,
and with it the absolute conviction that what you do not
know is exactly what you ought to know, and what you do
know is no use at all. It is too late to do anything. You
cannot get up in a day what it would take you a fortnight
to go through. And it is not much good, now you are sure
it is useless, to go over again what you have done. You
begin to feel a sort of despair, which becomes, as the hours
close in, positively reckless. What do you care if you do
miss ? What's the use of bothering any more about it ? It
cannot be helped ; why make yourself miserable ? Only, you
would give worlds to have the thing all over. Such at least
were the sensations which stirred in the breasts of Oliver
Greenfield and Horace Wraysford as they sat somewhat
dejectedly over their books in Oliver's study that Saturday
afternoon.

They had both worked hard since the holidays, generally

192 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

together, neither concealing from the other what he had
read or what he intended to read. Very bad rivals were
these two, for though each was intent on winning the
scholarship, each felt he would not break his heart if the
other beat him, and that, as every, one knows, is a most
unheard-of piece of toleration. Now, however, each felt
he had had enough of it Oliver in particular was very de-
spondent. He slammed up his books suddenly, and said,
1 1 give it up \ it's not a bit of use going on ! '

Wraysford pushed back his chair slowly, and said, not
very cheeringly,

' Upon my word I think you're right, Noll.'

'I've a good mind,' said Oliver, looking very morose, * to
scratch, and leave you and Loman to fight it out'

' Don't be a jackass, Noll,' replied Wraysford, half laugh-
ing. ' That would be a sensible thing to do ! '

4 AH very well for you to laugh/ said Oliver, his brow
clouding. ( You know you are well up and are going to win. 5

' I'm no better up than you are,' said the other.

' You know you're going to win,' repeated Oliver.

' I only wish I did,' said Wraysford, with a sigh.

' Why,' pursued Oliver, evidently bent on a melancholy
tack, ' I assure you, Wray, I've forgotten half even of what
I did know. I was going over some of those brutal Roman
History dates in bed last night, for instance, and I positively
couldn't remember one. Then I tried the map of Greece,
but I was still worse there ; I couldn't remember where one
single place was except Athens and Corinth, and I'm sure
I used to be pretty well up in that.'

' I expect you were half asleep at the time,' suggested
his friend.

' No, I wasn't ; I couldn't sleep a wink. I say, Wray,
wouldn't it be jolly if we only knew now what the questions
are going to be on Monday ? '

* Why don't you go and ask the Doctor?' said Wrays-
ford, laughing ; ' he'd be delighted to tell you.'

A CRISIS. 193

' What a humbug you are, Wray ! I say, suppose we shut
up work now and have a turn on the river. I'm certain it
will do us more good than cracking our skulls here.'

' Just what I had been thinking. I'm game, and it can't
make much difference. 7

' I suppose Loman is grinding up to the last ? '

' I suppose so ; I was almost in hopes he wouldn't keep
it up.'

' Never mind, it will all be over on Monday ; that's a
comfort ! Come along, old man. Suppose we get young
Stee to cox us up to the lock and back.'

Hue and cry was forthwith made for Stephen, but he
was not to be found. He was out, Paul said ; at the post,
or somewhere.

' Oh, all right ; you can come and cox us yourself,
youngster/ said Wraysford.

4 Cox you ! ' exclaimed Paul ; ' why, ain't the Nightingale
exam, coming on, then, on Monday ? '

i Of course it is ! '

1 And you two going out to row ! I say, the Sixth will win
it if you don't look out ! ' said Paul, in a very concerned
voice.

It was quite a revelation to the two boys to discover how
great was the interest taken by outsiders in the coming
event. Paul was in a great state of alarm, and was actually
inclined to refuse to aid and abet what he imagined to be
a wicked waste of precious opportunity, until, putting his
head into Loman's study, he found that the Sixth Form
fellow was also not at work.

When Oliver and Wraysford appeared in boating flannels
in the playground they created as much sensation as if they
had been ghosts.

* You don't mean to say you're going out, you fellows? '
exclaimed Ricketts, one of the idle ones of the Fifth.

' Yes, I do,' said Wraysford.

* But the Nightingale, I say ? '

194 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

* That's not till Monday. 7

* I know ; but aren't you grinding for it ? I say, don't
let them beat you ! Hadn't you better work instead of going
out?'

Ricketts, by the way, had not done a stroke of work that
he could possibly help all the term !

All the other Fifth Form fellows they encountered echoed
more or less anxiously the same advice. But the two
friends were obdurate. Threats, promises, entreaties, would
not put them off their row up the river, and they went on
their way, leaving behind them an unusual gloom on the
spirits of their dearest friends.

The only person who seemed really glad to see them
leaving their work was Bramble. He, with his friend
Padger, and a few other irreconcilables, were just return-
ing from a rat-catching expedition, and the sight of the
Fifth Form heroes in boating costume filled them with

joy.

* Hullo — my eye — hurrah ! 7 shouted Bramble, taking in

the situation in a moment. * There they go ! I hope they
get drowned ; don't you, Padger ? '

Padger was understood to assent to this benevolent
aspiration.

4 Go it. You'll get the Nightingale ! I thought you
would ! Hope you get drowned, do you hear ! Hurrah
for the Sixth ! '

At this juncture Master Paul gave chase, and for a few
moments Bramble and his friends were too much engaged
to speak ; but at last, when the chase was over, and further
reprisals were out of the question, the hero of the Tadpoles
summoned up all his remaining powers to yell :

' Yah boo, Nightingale ! Hope you get drowned ! Yah ! '
after which he went his way.

The two friends paddled quietly up the river. They
talked very little, but both felt relieved to be away from
their books. As they went on their spirits rose, greatly to

A CRISIS. 195

Paul's displeasure. That young gentleman, immoderately

jealous for the glory of the Fifth, was content as long as the
two rowers remained grave and serious ; he could then make
himself believe they were engaged in mental exercises favour-
able to Monday's examination. But as soon as they began
to whistle, and chaff him and one another, and talk of their
holiday adventures, Paul became displeased, for they could
not possibly do this and be inwardly preparing for the
examination at the same time.

However, he had to submit as best he could, and gave
all his attention to steering them carefully, so that it should
be no fault of his, at any rate, if they were prevented from
showing up on the critical day.

' This old Shar isn't half such a jolly river as the Thames,
is it, Wray ? '

' Rather not ! ' replied Wraysford, resting on his oar ;
( and yet it's pretty enough in parts.'

1 Oh, up at the weir? — yes. But I'm" out of love with
weirs at present. I shudder every time I think of that one
up the Thames.'

' It wasn't pleasant, certainly,' said Wraysford.

' Pleasant ! Old man, if you hadn't been there it would
have been a good deal worse than unpleasant. Poor
Stee ! '

* Pull your left, Greenfield senior, or you'll be into the
bank ! ' sung out Paul,

They paddled on again until Gusset Lock came in sight.
There were very few boats about ; the season was, in fact, t
at an end, and the river, which a month or two ago had
generally swarmed with boats just at this part on Saturday
afternoons, looked quite deserted.

'Shall we go through the lock or turn round?' inquired
Paul.

* May as well turn, eh, Wray ? '

Paul was about to obey the order and turn the boat,
when, casting his eyes on the bank, he started suddenly to

196 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

his feet and exclaimed, pointing towards the lock-house,
' Hullo ! I say, there's something up there ! '

The two others looked round ; something more lively
than usual was undoubtedly taking place at old Mr.
Cripps's residence, to judge by the shouts and laughter
which proceeded from the group of people assembled near
the door.

From where they were the boys in the boat could not
see what the nature of the excitement was, and therefore
paddled on with a view to satisfy their curiosity.

As they came up to the lock Paul suddenly exclaimed,
' That's young Greenfield ! '

' What ! ' said Oliver— * Stephen ? '

* Yes, and — what on earth are they doing to him ? '

The boat being low down under the bank, it was impos-
sible to see what was going on on the tow-path. Oliver,
however, having once heard Stephen's name, ordered Paul
to put them into the opposite bank quick, where they could
land.

While this was being done a shriek from the bank sent
the blood suddenly to the faces of the two friends. It was
Stephen ! They dashed ashore, and in a moment were
across the lock and on the spot. The spectacle which met
their eyes as they came up was a strange one. The central
figure was the luckless Stephen, in the clutches of three or
four disreputable fellows, one of whom was Cripps the
younger, who, with loud laughter at the boy's struggles and
brutal unconcern at his terror, were half dragging, half
carrying him towards the water's edge.

Beside them stood Loman, flushed, excited, and laughing
loudly. Poor Stephen, very unlike himself, appeared to be
utterly cowed and terrified, and uttered shriek upon shriek
as his persecutors dragged him along.

' Oh, don't ! Please, Cripps ! Don't let them, Loman —
don't let them drown me ! ' he shouted.

A laugh was the only answer.

A CRISIS. 197

It was at this moment, and just when, to all appearances,
the boy was about to be thrown into the water, that Oliver
and Wraysford appeared on the scene.

Their appearance was so sudden and unexpected that the
fellows, even though they did not know who the two boys
were, were momentarily taken aback and dropped their
prey.

With a bound ' Oliver sprang furiously on Cripps, who
happened to be nearest him, and before that respectable
gentleman knew where he was, had dealt him a blow which
sent him staggering back in the utmost alarm and astonish-
ment. Wraysford, no less prompt, tackled one of the other
blackguards, while Stephen, now released, and cured of his
momentary terror by the appearance of the rescuers, did his
share manfully with one of the others.

The contest was short and sharp. A pair of well-trained
athletic schoolboys, with a plucky youngster to help them,
are a match any day for twice the number of half-tipsy cads.
In a minute or two the field was clear of all but Cripps,
who appeared, after his short experience, by no means
disposed to continue the contest single-handed. As for
Loman, he had disappeared.

i What is all this ? ' demanded Oliver, when at last,
breathless and pale with excitement, he could find
words.

' Oh, Noll ! ' cried Stephen, ' I'll tell you all about it.
But let's get away from here.'

* No, I won't go ! ' shouted Oliver — ' not till I know what
it all means. You fellow ! ' added he, walking up to Cripps,
' you'd better speak or 111 thrash you ! '

Mr. Cripps, who had had time to recover somewhat from
his first surprise, looked a little inclined to defy his young
antagonist, but, thinking better of it, suddenly assumed his
usual impudent swagger as he replied, with a laugh, ' Come,
I say, you do do it well, you do ! It was a joke — just a
joke, young gentleman. You've no occasion to flurry your-

198 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

self; we wouldn't have hurt a hair of the young gentleman's
head. Ask Mr. Loman.'

' Where's Loman ? ' demanded Oliver.

'Gone/ said Stephen. 'But I say, Noll, do come away.
I'll tell you all about it. Do come;'

Cripps laughed. ' Don't you swallow all that young swell
tells you. He's a nice boy, he is, but — well, he'd better
mind what he says, that's all ! '

( Do come away ! ' once more entreated Stephen.

'Yes, do come away,' laughed Cripps, mimicking the
boy's tones. ' When I calls up at the school I'll let them
all know what a nice young prig he is, coming down and
drinking at my public-house and then turning round on me.
Never fear ! Fll let them know, my beauties ! I'll have a
talk with your Doctor and open his eyes for him. Good-bye,
you sneaking young — '

' Look here ! ' said Wraysford, quietly walking up to the
blackguard in the midst of this discourse, 'if you don't stop
instantly you'll be sorry for it.'

Cripps stared a moment at the speaker, and at the first he
held out. Then, without another word, he turned on his
heel into the cottage, leaving the three boys standing in
undisputed possession of the tow-path.

' Come on, how, old man ! ' said Wraysford ; ' we can't do
any good by staying here.'

Oliver looked disposed to resist, and cast a glance at the
cottage door by which Cripps had just vanished. But he
let himself be persuaded eventually, and turned gloomily
towards the boat. Here Paul, who had been a witness of
the fracas on the tow-path, was waiting, ready to steer home,
and bursting with curiosity to hear all Stephen had to say.

Greatly to his disgust, Oliver said, peremptorily, ' You'll
have to walk home, Paul; Stephen will steer.'

' Why, you said I might steer.'

Oliver was in no humour for an argument, so he gave
Paul a light box on his ears and advised him to go home

A CRISIS. 199

quietly unless he wanted a thrashing, and not say a word to
any one about what had occurred.

Paul had nothing for it but sulkily to obey, and walk
back. At last the others got on board and put off

homeward.

1 Now/ said Oliver, presently, resting on his oar and
bending forward towards Stephen.

4 Oh, Noll ! ' began that unhappy youngster, ' I am so
very, very sorry ! it was all — '

4 None of that/ angrily interrupted the elder brother.
4 Just tell me how it came about.'

Stephen, quite cowed by his brother's angry manner, told
his story shortly and hurriedly.

'Why/ he said, * you know I promised you never to go
to the Cockchafer again, and I didn't, but I thought I ought
to see Cripps and give him back the bicycle-lamp.'

4 Young muff! ' ejaculated his brother.

4 So/ pursued Stephen, still more falteringly, 1 1 thought
I'd come up this afternoon.'

4 Well, go on, can't you ? ' said Oliver, losing his temper
at the poor boy's evident uneasiness.

* Cripps asked me into the cottage, and there were some
fellows there, smoking and drinking and playing cards.'

4 Was Loman one of them ? ' put in Wraysford.

4 1 think so/ said poor Stephen, who had evidently
started his story in the hope of keeping Loman's name
quiet.

4 Think so, you young cad ! ' cried Oliver. 4 Why can't
you tell the truth straight out ? Was he there or not ? '

4 Yes, he was. I did mean to tell the truth, Noll, really,
only — only there's no need to get Loman in a row.'

* Go on/ said Oliver.

4 They made fun of me because I wouldn't smoke and
play with them. You know I promised mother not to play
cards, Noll. I didn't mind that, though, but when I wanted
to go away they — -that is, Cripps — wouldn't let me. I tried

200 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

to get away, but he stopped me, and they said they'd make
me play/

' Who said ? Did Loman ? J inquired Oliver, again.

' Why — yes,' said Stephen falteringly, ' he and the rest.
They held me down in a chair, and made me take hold of

F

the cards, and one of them opened my mouth and shouted
beastly words down into it — ugh ! '

1 Was that Loman ? '

'No/ said Stephen, relieved to be able to deny it.

' What did he do ? ' demanded Oliver.

' They all—'

1 What did Loman do, I say ? ' again asked Oliver.

It was no use trying to keep back anything.

' He pulled my ears, but not very hard. Really I expect
it was only fun, Noll.' This was said quite beseechingly.
' I said I thought they were very wicked to be doing what
they did ; but they only laughed at that, and called me
a prig. 7

* Much better if you'd kept what you thought to yourself/
said Wraysford. < Well ? '

' Oh, then they did a lot of things to rile me, and knocked
me about because I wouldn't drink their stuff, and they
swore too.'

' Did Loman swear ? '

' They all swore, I think/ said Stephen ; ( and then,
you know, when I wouldn't do what they wanted they
said they'd throw me in the river, and then you fellows

turned up/

' Did Loman tell them to throw you in the river ? ' said
Oliver, whose brow had been growing darker and darker.

' Oh, no/ exclaimed Stephen, ' he didn't, really ! 1 think
he was sorry/

* Did he try to prevent it, then ? ' asked Oliver.

' Well, no ; I didn't hear him say — ' faltered Stephen ;
but Oliver shut him up, and turning to Wraysford said,
' Wray, I shall thrash Loman/

A CRISIS. 20 1

' All serene/ replied Wraysford ; ' you'd better have it
out to-night/

' Oh, Noll ! ' cried Stephen in great distress ; ( don't fight,
please. It was all my fault, for — '

'Shut up, Stee,' said Oliver, quietly, but not unkindly.
Then turning to Wraysford, he added,

1 After tea, then, Wray, in the gymnasium. 7

( Right you are ! ' replied his friend.

And then, without another word, the three rowed back to
St. Dominic's.

( 202 )

CHAPTER XXI.

THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF.

N reaching St. Dominic's the three boys discovered
that the news of their afternoon's adventure had
arrived there before them. Paul, despite his promise of
secrecy, had not been able to refrain from confiding to one
or two bosom friends, in strict confidence, his version of the
fracas on the tow-path. Of course the story became fright-
fully distorted in its progress from mouth to mouth, but it
flew like wildfire through St. Dominic's all the same.

When Oliver and his friend with Stephen entered the.
school-house, groups of inquisitive boys eyed them askance
and whispered as they went by. It seemed quite a dis-
appointment to not a few that the three did not appear
covered with blood, or as pale as sheets, or with broken
limbs. No one knew exactly what had happened, but
every one knew something had happened, and it would have
been much more satisfactory if the heroes of the hour had
had something to show for it.

Oliver was in no mood for gratifying the curiosity of any-
body, and stalked off to his study in gloomy silence, attended
by his chum and the anxious Stephen.

A hurried council of war ensued.

' I must go and challenge Loman at once,' said Oliver.

( Let me go/ said Wraysford.

( Why? ?

' Because most likely if you go you'll have a row in his

THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF. 203

study. Much better wait and have it out decently in the
gymnasium. I'll go and tell him.'

Oliver yielded to this advice.

1 Look sharp, old man,' he said, 'that's all.'

Wraysford went off on his mission without delay.

He found Loman in his study with his books before him.

' Greenfield senior wants me to say he'll meet you after
tea in the gymnasium if you'll come there/ said the
ambassador.

Loman, who was evidently prepared for the scene, looked
up angrily as he replied,

' Fight me ? What does he want to fight me for, I should
like to know ! '

'You know as well as I do/ said Wraysford.

' I know nothing about it, and what's more I'll have nothing
to do with the fellow. Tell him that.'

' Then you won't fight ? ' exclaimed the astounded
Wraysford.

' No, I won't to please him. When I've nothing better
to do I'll do it ; ' and with the words his face flushed
crimson as he bent it once more over his book.

Wraysford was quite taken aback by this unexpected
answer, and hesitated before he turned to go.

' Do you hear what I say ? ' said Loman. ' Don't you see
I'm working?

* Look here,' said Wraysford, ' I didn't think you were a
coward.'

' Think what you like. Do you suppose I care? If
Greenfield wants so badly to fight me, why didn't he do it
last term when I gave him the chance ? Get out of my study,
and tell him I'll have nothing to do with him or any of your

stuck-uo Fifth ! '

Wraysford stared hard at the speaker and then said,

i I suppose you're afraid to fight me, either?'

' If you don't clear out of my study I'll report you to the

Doctor, that's what I'll do/ growled Loman.

204 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

There was no use staying, evidently ; and Wraysford
returned dejectedly to Oliver.

( He won't fight,' he announced.

' Not fight 1 ' exclaimed Oliver. ' Why ever not? '

' I suppose because he's a coward. He says because he
doesn't choose. '

' But he must fight, Wray. We must make him ! '

' You can't. I called him a coward, and that wouldn't
make him. You'll have to give it up this time, Noll.'

But Oliver wouldn't hear of giving it up so easily. He
got up and rushed to Loman's study himself. But it was
locked. He knocked, no one answered. He called through
the keyhole, but there was no reply. Evidently Loman did
not intend to fight, and Oliver returned crestfallen and dis-
appointed to his study.

( It's no go,' he said, in answer to his friend's inquiry.

' Oh, well, never mind,' said Wraysford. ' Even if you
could have fought, I dare say it wouldn't have done much
good, for he's such a sullen beggar there would have been
no making it up afterwards. If I were you I wouldn't
bother any more about it. I'll let all the fellows know he
refused to fight you ! '

' What's the use of that ? ' said Oliver. ' Why tell them
anything about it ? '

But tell them or not tell them, the fellows knew already.
It had oozed out very soon that a fight was coming off, and
instantly the whole school was in excitement. For, however
little some of them cared about the personal quarrel between
Oliver and Loman, a fight between Fifth and Sixth was too
great an event to be passed by unheeded.

The Fifth were delighted. They knew their man could
beat Loman any day of the week, and however much they
had once doubted his courage, now it was known he was the
challenger every misgiving on that score was done away with.

' I tell you/ said Ricketts to a small knot of his class-
fellows, t he could finish him up easily in one round.'

THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF. 205

' Yes/ chimed in another knowing one, ' Loman's got
such a wretched knack of keeping up his left elbow, that
he's not a chance. A child could get in under his guard, I tell
you ; and as for wind, he's no more wind than an old paper
bag!'

' I wish myself it was a closer thing, as long as our man
won/ said Tom Senior, with a tinge of melancholy in his
voice. ' It will be such a miserably hollow affair I'm
afraid.'

* I'm sorry it's not Wren, or Callonby, or one of them,'
said another of these amiable warriors ; * there'd be some
pleasure in chawing them up.'

At this moment up came Pembury, with a very long
face.

' It's no fight after all, you fellows/ said he. ' Loman
funks it ! '

* What ! he won't fight ! ' almost shrieked the rest, ' It
must be wrong/

( Oh, all right, if it's wrong/ snarled Pembury. ' I tell
you there's no fight ; you can believe it or not as you like,'
and off he hobbled, in unusual ill-humour.

This was a sad blow to the Fifth. They saw no comfort
anywhere. They flocked to Oliver's study, but he was not
there, and Wraysford's door was locked. The news, how-
ever, was confirmed by other reporters, and in great grief
and profound melancholy the Fifth swallowed their tea, and
wondered if any set of fellows were so unlucky as they.

But their rage was as nothing to that of the Guinea-pigs
and Tadpoles.

These amiable young animals had of course sniffed the
battle from afar very early in the evening, and, as usual,

rushed into all sorts of extremes of enthusiasm on the
subject. A fight ! A fight between Fifth and Sixth ! A
fight between Greenfield senior and a monitor ! Oh, it was
too good to be true, a perfect luxury; something to be
grateful for, and no mistake!

206 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST DOMINIC'S.

Of course a meeting was forthwith assembled to gloat
over the auspicious event.

Bramble vehemently expressed his conviction that the
Sixth Form man would eat up his opponent, and went the
length of offering to cut off his own head and Padger's if it
turned out otherwise.

Paul and his friends, on the other hand, as vehemently
backed the Fifth fellow.

( When's it to come off, I say ? ' demanded Bramble,

' To-night, I should say, or first thing in the morning.'

' Sure to be to-night. My eye! won't Greenfield senior
look black and blue after it ! '

' No, he won't/ cried Paul.

' Turn him out ! ' shouted Bramble. ' No one wants you
here ; do we, Padger ? Get yourself out of the meeting,
you sneak ! '

' Get yourself out ! ' retorted Paul.

The usual lively scene ensued, at the end of which the
door suddenly opened, and a boy entered.

' Look sharp,' he cried : ' it's half over by now. They

were

But what the end of his sentence was to be, history
recordeth not. With a simultaneous yell the youngsters
rushed headlong from the room, down the passages, out at
the door, across the quadrangle, and into the gymnasium.
Alas ! it was empty. Only the gaunt parallel bars, and idle
swings, and melancholy vaulting-horse.

With a yelp of anger the pack cried back, and made
once more for the school-house. At the door they met
Stephen.

'Where's the fight, young Greenfield? ' shouted Bramble.
' Nowhere/ replied Stephen.

'What ! not coming off?' shrieked the youngsters.
' No/ laconically answered Stephen.
' Has your brother funked it again ? ' demanded Bramble,
in his usual conciliatory way.

THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF. 207

* He never funked, you young cad ! ' retorted the young
brother.

* Yes, he did, didn't he, Padger ? That time, you know,
last term. But I say, Greenfield junior, why ever's the right
not coming off ? J

' Loman won't fight, that's why, 7 said Stephen; and then,
having had quite enough of catechising, turned on his heel
and left the indignant youngsters to continue their rush
back to the Fourth Junior, there to spend an hour or so
in denouncing the caddishness of everybody and to make
up by their own conflicts for the shortcomings of others.

Oliver meanwhile had settled down as best he could once
more to work, and tried to forget all about the afternoon's
adventures. But for a long time they haunted him and dis-
turbed him. Gradually, however, he found himself cooling
down under the influence of Greek accents and Roman
history.

* After all,' said he to Wraysford, ' if the fellow is a
coward why need I bother? Only I should have rather
liked to thrash him for what he did to Stee.'

* Never mind — thrash him over the Nightingale instead.'
The mention of the Nightingale, however, did not serve

to heighten Oliver's spirits at all.

He turned dejectedly to his books, but soon gave up
further study.

'You can go on if you like,' said he to Wraysford. C I
can't. It's no use. I think I shall go to bed.'

'What ! It's not quite nine yet.'

' Is that all it is ? Never mind ; good-night, old man.
I'm glad it will all be over on Monday.'

Before Oliver went to bed he had a talk with Stephen in
his study. He succeeded in putting pretty vividly before
his young brother the position in which he had placed him-
self by going down to the public-house and associating with
a man like Cripps.

' What I advise you is, to make a clean breast of it to the

208 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOMINIC S.

Doctor at once. If he hears of it any other way, you're
done for.' Oliver certainly had an uncompromising way of
putting things.

' Oh, Noll, I never could! I know I couldn't. I say,
will you ? You can tell him anything you like/

Oliver hesitated a moment, and then said, ' All serene ;
I'll do it. Mind, I must tell him everything, though.'

' Oh, yes ! I say, do you think I'll be expelled ? '

1 1 hope not. There's no knowing, though.'

' Oh, Noll ! what shall I do ? '

' It's your only chance, I tell you. If Cripps comes up
and talks about it, or Loman tells, you're sure to be

expelled.'

* Well/ said Stephen, with a gulp, c I suppose you'd better

tell him, Noll. Need I come too ? '

' No, better not/ said Oliver. ' I'll go and see if he's in
his study now. You go up stairs, and I'll come and tell you
what he says/

Stephen crawled dismally away, leaving his brother to
fulfil his self-imposed task.

Oliver went straight to the Doctor's study. The door
stood half open, but the Doctor was not there. He entered,
and waited inside a couple of minutes, expecting that the
head master would return ; but no one came. After all, he
would have to put off his confession of Stephen's delin-
quencies till to-morrow ; and, half relieved, half disappointed,
he quitted the room. As he came out he encountered
Simon in the passage.

* Hullo, Greenfield ! ' said that worthy ; * what have you
been up to in there ? '

'I want the Doctor,' said Oliver ; 'do you know where
he is?'

* Ifsaw him go up stairs a minute ago ; that is, I mean
down stairs, you know,' said the lucid poet.

This information was sufficiently vague to determine
Oliver not to attempt a wild-goose chase after the Doctor

THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF. 209

that night, so, bidding a hurried good-night to Simon, he took
his way down the passage which led to Stephen's dormitory.

He had not, however, gone many steps when a boy met
him. It was Loman. There was a momentary struggle in
Oliver's breast. Here was the very opportunity which an
hour or two ago he had so eagerly desired. The whole
picture of that afternoon's adventures came up before his
mind, and he felt his blood tingle as his eyes caught sight
of Stephen's persecutor. Should he pay off the score now ?

Loman saw him, and changed colour. He evidently
guessed what was passing through his enemy's mind, for a
quick flush came to his face and an angry scowl to his brow.

Oliver for one moment slackened pace. Theji suddenly
there came upon him a vision of Stephen's appealing face as
he interceded that afternoon for the boy who had done him
such mischief, and that vision settled the thing.

Hurriedly resuming his walk, Oliver passed Loman with
averted eyes, and went on his way.

'Well?' said Stephen, in the midst ot undressing, as his
brother entered the dormitory.

' He wasn't there. I'll see him in the morning/ said
Oliver. 'Good-night, Stee.'

t Good-night, Noll, old man ! I say, you are a brick to
me ! ' and as the boy spoke there was a tremble in his voice
which went straight to his brother's heart.

( You are a brick to me ! ' A pretty * brick ' he had been,
letting the youngster drift anywhere — into bad company,
into bad ways, without holding out a hand to warn him ; and
in the end coming to his help only by accident, and serving
him by undertaking a task which would quite possibly result
in his expulsion from the school.

A brick, indeed I Oliver went off to his own bed that night
more dispirited and dissatisfied with himself than he had ever
felt before. And all through his dreams his brother's troubled
face looked up at him, and the trembling voice repeated,
again and again, ( You are a brick to me — a brick to me ! '

( 2IO")

CHAPTER XXII.

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION.

THE next morning early, before breakfast, Oliver joined
the Doctor in his study, and made a clean breast to
him there and then of Stephen's delinquencies. He had
evidently taken the right step in doing so, for, hearing it all
thus frankly confessed by the elder brother, Dr. Senior was
disposed to take a much more lenient view of the case than
he would had the information come to him through any

other channel.

But at its best the offence was a grave one, and Oliver
more than once felt anxious at the sight of the head master's
long face during the narrative. However, when it was all
over his fears were at once dispelled by the doctor saying,
' Well, Greenfield, you've done a very proper thing in telling
me all this ; it is a straightforward as well as a brotherly act.
Your brother seems to have been very foolish, but I have
no doubt he has got a lesson. You had better send him to
me after morning service.'

And so, much relieved, Oliver went off and reported to
the grateful Stephen the success of his mission, and the two
boys went off to the school chapel together a good deal
more happy than they had been the previous day.

'I say,' said Stephen, as they went along, 'I suppose you
didn't say anything about Loman, did you ? '

'Of course not! he's no concern of mine,' said Oliver,
rather tartly. ' But look here, young 'un, I'm not going to

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION. 211

let you fag any more for him, or have anything to do with
him/

' All right ! ' said Stephen, who had no desire to continue
his acquaintance with his late ' proprietor.' ' But the captain
will row me, won't he ? '

'If he does I'll make that square. You can fag for
Wraysford if you like, though, he wants a fellow.'

( Oh, all right ! ' cried Stephen, delighted, ' that'll be
jolly! I like old Wray.'

' Very kind of you,' said a voice close by.

It was Wraysford himself, who had come in for this very
genuine compliment.

( Hullo ! I say, look here, Wraysford,' said the beaming
Stephen, ' I'm going to cut Loman and fag for you. Isn't
it jolly?'

'Depends on whether I have you. I don't want any
Guinea-pigs in my study, mind.'

Stephen's face fell. For even such a privilege as fagging
for Wraysford he could not afford to sever the sacred ties
which held him to the fellowship of the Guinea-pigs. ' I
really wouldn't kick up shines,' said he, imploringly.

' You'd be a queer Guinea-pig if you didn't ! ' was the
flattering answer. ' And how many times a week would you
go on strike, eh ? '

' Oh ! ' said Stephen, ' I'll never go on strike again ; I
don't like it.'

The two friends laughed at this ingenuous admission, and
then Wraysford said, ' Well, I'll have you ; but mind, I'm
awfully particular, and knock my fags about tremendously,
don't I, Noll ? '

' I don't mind that,' said the delighted Stephen. ' Besides,
you've not had a fag to knock about ! '

At that moment, however, the bell for morning chapel
cut short all further talk for the present. Stephen obeyed
its summons for once in a subdued and thankful frame of
mind. Too often had those weekly services been to him

212 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

occasions of mere empty form, when with his head full of
school worries or school fun he had scarcely heard, much
less heeded, what was said.

To-day, however, it was different. Stephen was a sobered
boy. He had passed through perils and temptations from
which, if he had escaped, it had been through no merit of
his own. Things might have been far different. His life
had been saved, so had his peace of mind, and now even
the consequences of old transgressions had been lightened
for him. What had he done to deserve all this ?

This was the question which the boy humbly asked
himself as he entered the chapel that morning, and the
Doctor's sermon fitted well with his altered frame of

mind.

It was a sermon such as he had often heard before in that
chapel ; the words struck him now with a new force which
almost startled him. 'Forgetting those things which are
behind — reaching forth unto those things which are before*
— this was the Doctor's text, and in the few simple words in
which he urged his hearers to lay the past, with all its
burdens, and disappointments, and shame, upon Him in
whom alone forgiveness is to be found, Stephen drank in
new courage and hope for the future, and in the thankfulness
and penitence of his heart resolved to commit his way more
honestly than ever to the best of all keeping, compared with
which even a brother's love is powerless.

Before the morning was over Stephen duly went to the
Doctor, who talked to him very seriously. I need not
repeat the talk here. Stephen was very penitent, and had
the good sense to say as little as possible ; but when it was
all over he thanked the Doctor gratefully, and promised he
should never have to talk to him for bad conduct again.

'You must thank your brother for my not dealing a great
deal more severely with the case,' said Dr. Senior ; ' and I
am quite ready to believe it will not occur again. Now,
good-bye.'

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION. 213

And off Stephen went, the happiest boy alive, determined
more than ever to respect the Doctor's authority, and prove
himself a model boy.

Sunday afternoon at St. Dominic's was usually spent by
the boys in fine weather, in strolling about in the gardens,
or rambling into the woods by the banks of the Shar.

This afternoon, however, was somewhat overcast, and a
good many of the boys consequently preferred staying indoors
to running the risk of spoiling their best hats in a shower.
Among those who kept the house was Oliver, who, in reply
to Wraysford's invitation to go out, pleaded that he was not
in the humour.

This indeed was the case, for, now that Stephen's affairs
were settled, the dread of the approaching Nightingale
examination came back over him like a nightmare, and made
him quite miserable. The nearer the hour of trial came the
more convinced did Oliver become that he stood no chance
whatever of winning, and with that conviction all the bright
hopes of a university course, and the prospects of after-success,
seemed extinguished.

Of course it was very ridiculous of him to worry himself
into such a state, but then, reader, he had been working just
a little too hard, and it was hardly his fault if he was
ridiculous.

Wraysford, though by no means in high spirits, kept his
head a good deal better, and tried to enjoy his walk and
forget all about books, as if nothing at all was going to
happen to-morrow. As for Loman, he was not visible from
morning till night, and a good many guessed, and guessed
correctly, that he was at work, even on Sunday.

The small boys, not so much though, I fear, out of
reverence for the day as for partisanship of the Fifth, were
very indignant on the subject, and held a small full-dress
meeting after tea, to protest against one of the candidates
taking such an unfair advantage over the others.

' He ought to be expelled ! ' exclaimed Paul.

214 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

'All very well/ said Bramble. 'Greenfield senior's
cramming too, he's been in all the afternoon.'

( He's not cramming, he's got a headache ! ' said Stephen.

' Oh, yes, I dare say, don't you, Padger? Got a headache

■that's a nice excuse for copying out of cribs on a Sunday.'

' He doesn't use cribs, and I tell you he's not working ! '
said Stephen, indignantly.

' Shut up, do you hear, or you'll get turned out, Potboy ! '

This was too much for Stephen, who left the assembly in
disgust, after threatening to take an early opportunity on the
next day of giving his adversary ' one for himself/ a threat
which we may as well say at once here he did not fail to
carry out with his wonted energy.

The long Sunday ended at last — a Sunday spoiled to
many of the boys of St. Dominic's by distracting thoughts
and cares — a day which many impatiently wished over, and
which some wished would never give place to the morrow.

But that morrow came at last, and with r it rose Oliver,
strengthened and hopeful once m:>.e lor the trial that lay
before him. He was early at Wraysford's study, whom he
found only just out of bed.

' Look alive, old man. What do you say to a dip in the
river before breakfast ? We've got plenty of time, and it
will wash off the cobwebs before the exam.'

' All serene/ said Wraysford, not very cheerily, though.
' Anything's better than doing nothing.'

' Why, Wray, I thought you weren't going to let yourself
get down about it ? '

' I thought you weren't going to let yourself get up — why,
you're quite festive this morning.'

4 Well, you see, a fellow can't do better than his best, and
so as I have done my best I don't mean to punish myself
by getting in the blues.'

' Pity you didn't make that resolution yesterday. You
were awfully glum, you know, then; and now I've got my
turn, you see/

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION 215

'Oh, never mind, a plunge in the Shar will set you all right.'

' Stee/ said he, addressing his younger brother, who at
that moment entered proudly in his new capacity as Wrays-
ford's fag, ' mind you have breakfast ready sharp by eight,
do you hear? the best you can get out of Wray's cupboard.
Come along, old boy.'

And so they went down to the river, Oliver in unusually
good spirits, and Wraysford most unusually depressed and
nervous. The bathe was not a great success, for Wraysford
evidently did not enjoy it.

'What's wrong, old man?' said Oliver, as they walked
back, ' aren't you well ? '

6 I'm all right/ said Wraysford.

' But you're out of spirits. It's odd that I was in dumps
and you were in good spirits up to the fatal day, and now
things are just reversed. But, I say, you mustn't get down,
you know, or it'll tell against you at the exam.'

' It strikes me every answer I give will tell against me.
All I hope is that you get the scholarship.'

'I mean to try, just like you and Loman.'

And so they went into breakfast, which was a solemn
meal, and despite Stephen's care in hunting up delicacieG,
not very well partaken of.

It seemed ages before the nine o'clock bell summoned
them down to the Fifth Form room.

' Here, however, the sympathy and encouragement of
their class-fellows amply served to pass the time till the
examination began.

' Well, you fellows,' cried Pembury, as the two entered,
' do you feel like winning ? 7

' Not more than usual,' said Oliver. ' How do you feel ? '

' Oh, particularly cheerful, for I've nothing to do all day,
I find. I'm not in for the Nightingale, or for the Mathema-
tical Medal, or for the English Literature. Simon's in for
that, you know, so there's no chance for any one.'

Simon smiled very blandly at this side compliment.

216 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

' So you fellows, 7 continued Tony, ' may command my
services from morning to night if you like.*

'Loman was grinding hard all yesterday,' said Braddy.
' I'm afraid he'll be rather a hot one to beat.'

4 But we must beat him, mind, you fellows,' said Ricketts,
calmly, comprehending the whole class in his ' we.'

'Why, Wray/ said another, 'how jolly blue you look!
Don't go and funk it, old man, or it's all U P.'

( Who's going to funk it ? ' said Oliver, impatiently, on his
friend's behalf. ' I tell you Wray will most likely win.'

' Well, as long as one of you does/ said Tom Senior, with
noble impartiality, ' we don't care which ; do we, Braddy? '

' Of course not.'

So, then, all this sympathy and encouragement were not
for the two boys at all, but for their Form. They might just
as well have been two carefully trained racehorses starting
on a race with heavy odds upon them.

The Doctor's entry, however, put an end to any further
talk, and, as usual, a dead silence ensued after the boys had
taken their seats.

The Doctor looked a little uneasy. Doubtless he was
impressed, too, by the importance of the occasion. He
proceeded to call over the lists of candidates for the different
examinations in a fidgety manncf, very unlike his usual self,
and then turning abruptly to the class, said :

The Mathematical Medal candidates will remain here
for examination. The English Literature and Nightingale
Scholarship candidates will be examined in the Sixth Form
room. Boys not in for either of these examinations may
go to their studies till the twelve o'clock bell rings. Before
you disperse, however ' — and here the Doctor grew still
more fidgety — ( I want to mention one matter which I hav
already mentioned in the Sixth. I mention it not because I
suspect any boy here of a dishonourable act, but because —
the matter being a mystery — I feel I must not neglect the
most remote opportunity of clearing it up/

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION 217

What on earth was coming ? It was as good as a ghost
story, every one was so spellbound and mystified.

' On Saturday evening I had occasion to leave my study
for rather less than five minutes, shortly after nine o'clock.
I had been engaged in getting together the various papers of
questions for to-day's examinations, and left them lying on
the corner of the table. On returning to my study — I had
not been absent ^yq minutes — I found that one of the
papers — one of the Nightingale Scholarship papers, which I
had only just copied out, was missing. If I were not per-
fectly sure the full number was there before I left the room,
I should conclude I was mistaken, but of that I am sure.
I just wish to ask this one question here, which I have
already asked in the Sixth. Does any boy present know
anything about the missing paper ? '

You might have heard a pin drop as the Doctor paused
for a reply.

' No ? I expected not ; I am quite satisfied. You can
disperse, boys, to your various places.'

' What a fellow the Doctor is for speeches, Wray/ said
Oliver, as he and his friend made their way to the Sixth
Form room.

'Yes. But that's a very queer thing about the paper,
though.'

4 Oh, he's certain to have mislaid it somewhere. It's a
queer thing saying anything about it ; for it looks uncom-
monly as if he suspected some one.'

' So it does. Oh, horrors ! here we are at the torture
chamber ! I wish it was all over ! '

They entered the Sixth Form room, which was regularly
cleared for action. One long desk was allotted to the three
Nightingale candidates, two others to the English Literature
boys, and another to the competitors in a Sixth Form Greek
verse contest.

Loman was already in his place, waiting with flushed face
for the ordeal to begin. The two friends took their seats

218 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST, DOMINIC'S.

without vouchsafing any notice of their rival, and an un-
comfortable two minutes ensued, during which it seemed as
if the Doctor were never to arrive.

He did arrive at last, however, bringing with him the
examination papers for the various classes.

' Boys for the Greek verse prize come forward.'
Wren, Raleigh, Winter, and Callonby advanced, and
received each one his paper.

' Boys for the Nightingale Scholarship come forward.'
The three competitors obeyed the summons, and to each
was handed a paper.

It was not in human nature to forbear glancing hurriedly
at the momentous questions, as each walked slowly back to
his seat. The effect of that momentary glance was very
different on the three boys. Wraysford's face slightly
lengthened, Loman's grew suddenly aghast, Oliver's betrayed
no emotion whatever.

'Boys for the English Literature prize come forward/

These duly advanced and were furnished, and then silence
reigned in the room, broken only by the rapid scratching oi
pens and the solemn tick of the clock on the wall.

Reader, you doubtless know the horrors of an examination-
room as well as I do. You know what it is to sit biting the
end of your pen, and glaring at the ruthless question in front
of you. You . know what it is to dash nervously from
question to question, answering a bit of this and a bit of
that, but lacking the patience to work steadily down the
list. And you have experienced doubtless the aggravation
of hearing the pen of the man on your right flying along the
paper with a hideous squeak, never stopping for a moment
to give you a chance. And knowing all this, there is no
need for me to describe the vicissitudes of this particular
day of ordeal at St. Dominic's.

The work went steadily on from morning to afternoon.
More than one anxious face darted now and then nervous
glances up at the clock, as the hour of closing approached.

220 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

Loman was one of them. He was evidently in difficulties,
and the Fifth Form fellows, who looked round occasionally
from their English Literature papers, were elated to see
their own men writing steadily and hard, while the Sixth
man looked all aground. There was one boy, however,
who had no time for such observations. That was Simon.
He had got hold of a question which was after his own
heart, and demanded every second of his attention —
' Describe, in not more than twelve lines of blank verse, the
natural beauties of the River Shar.' Here was a chance for
the Dominican poet !

* The Shar is a very beautiful stream,
Of the Ouse a tributary ;
Up at Gusset Weir it's prettiest, I ween,
Because there the birds sing so merry.'

These four lines the poet styled, ' Canto One. 5 Cantos 2,
3, and 4 were much of the same excellence, and altogether
the effusion was in one of Simon's happiest moods. Alas !
as another poet said, ( Art is long, time is fleeting/ The
clock pointed to three long before the bard had penned his
fifth canto ; and sadly and regretfully he and his fellow-
candidates gathered together and handed in their papers,
for better or worse.

Among the last to finish up was Oliver, who had been
working hammer and tongs during«the whole examination.

' How did you get on? ' said Wraysford, as they walked
back to the Fifth.

* Middling, not so bad as I feared ; how did you ? 7

'Not very grand, I'm afraid ; but better than I expected,'
said Wraysford. ' But I say, did you see how gravelled
Loman seemed ? I fancy he didn't do very much/

' So I .thought ; but I hadn't time to watch him much.'

In the Fifth there was a crowd of questioners, eager to
ascertain how their champions had fared ; and great was

THE NIGHTINGALE EXAMINATION 221

their delight to learn that neither was utterly cast down at
his own efforts.

'You fellows are regular bricks if you get it!' cried
Ricketts.

' It'll be the best thing that has happened for the Fifth
for a long time.'

( Oh, I say/ said Simon, suddenly, addressing Oliver in a
peculiarly knowing tone, 'wasn't it funny, that about the
Doctor losing the paper? Just the very time I met you
coming out of his study, you know, on Saturday evening.
But of course I won't say anything. Only wasn't it
funny? '

What had come over Oliver, that he suddenly turned
crimson, and without a single word struck the speaker
angrily with his open hand on the forehead ?
Was he mad ? or could it possibly be that —
Before the assembled Fifth could recover from their
astonishment or conjecture as to the motive for this sudden
exhibition of feeling, he turned abruptly to the door and
quitted the room.

( 222 )

CHAPTER XXIII.

A TURN O F T H E T I D E.

AN earthquake could hardly have produced a greater
shock than Oliver's strange conduct produced on the
Fifth Form at St. Dominic's. For a moment or two they
remained almost stupefied with astonishment, and then rose
a sudden clamour of tongues on every hand.
( What can he mean ? ' exclaimed one.
'Mean ! It's easy enough to see what he means/ said
another, the * hypocrite !

' I should never have thought Greenfield senior went in
for that sort of thing ! '

' Went in for what sort of thing ? ' cried Wraysford, with
pale face and in a perfect tremble.

A TURN OF THE TIDE. 223

* Why — cheating ! ' replied the other.

' You're a liar to say so ! ' shouted Wraysford, walking
rapidly up to the speaker.

The other boys, however, intervened, and held the
indignant Wraysford back.

6 1 tell you you're a liar to say so ! ' again he exclaimed.
' He's not a cheat, I tell you ; he never cheated. You're a
pack of liars, all of you ! '

'I say, draw it mild, Wray, you know/ interposed
Pembury. * You needn't include me in your compliments.'

Wraysford glared at him a moment and then coloured
slightly.

' You don't call Oliver a cheat? ' he said, inquiringly.

' I shouldn't till I was cock-sure of the fact/ replied the
cautious editor of the Dominican.

1 Do you mean to say you aren't sure ? ' said W'raysford.

Pembury vouchsafed no answer, but whistled to himself.

' All I can say is/ said Bullinger, who was one of
Wraysford' s chums, 'it looks uncommonly ugly, if what
Simon says is true.'

' I don't believe a word that ass says.'

' Oh, but/ began Simon, with a most aggravating cheer-
fulness, ' I assure you I'm not telling a lie, Wraysford. I'm
sorry I said anything about it. I never thought there would
be a row about it. I promise I'll not mention it to
anybody.'

' You blockhead ! who cares for your promises ? I don't
believe you.'

( Well, I know I met Greenfield senior coming out of
the Doctor's study on Saturday evening, about five minutes
past nine. I'm positive of that/ said Simon.

i And I suppose he had the paper in his hand ?' sneered
Wraysford, looking very miserable.

' No ; I expect he'd put it in his pocket, you know, at
least, that is, I would have.'

This candid admission on the part of the ingenious poet

224 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

was too much for the gravity of one or two of the Fifth.
Wraysford, however, was in no laughing mood, and went
off to his study in great perturbation.

He could not for a moment believe that his friend could
be guilty of such a dishonourable act as stealing an examin-
ation paper, and his impulse was to go at once to Oliver's
study and get the suspicions of the Fifth laid there and
then. But the fear of seeming in the least degree to join in
those suspicions kept him back. He tried to laugh the
thing to scorn inwardly, and called himself a villain and a
traitor twenty times for admitting even the shadow of a doubt
into his own mind. Yet, as Wraysford sat that afternoon
and brooded over his friend's new trouble, he became more
and more uncomfortable.

When on a former occasion the fellows had called in
question Oliver's courage, he had felt so sure, so very sure
the suspicion was a groundless one, that he had never taken

it seriously to heart. But somehow this affair was quite
different. What possible object would Simon, for instance,
have for telling a deliberate lie ? and if it had been a lie, why
should Oliver have betrayed such confusion on hearing it ?

These were questions which, try all he would, Wraysford
could not get out of his mind.

When Stephen presently came in, cheery as ever, and
eager to hear how the examination had gone off, the elder
boy felt an awkwardness in talking to him which he had
never experienced before. As for Stephen, he put down the
short, embarrassed answers he received to Wraysford's own
uneasiness as to the result of the examination. Little
guessed the boy what was passing in the other's mind !

There was just one hope Wraysford clung to. That was
that Oliver should come out anywhere but first in the result.
If Loman, or Wraysford himself, were to win, no one would
be able to say his friend had profited by a dishonourable
act ; indeed, it would be as good as proof he had not taken
the paper.

A TURN OF THE TIDE. 225

And yet Wraysford felt quite sick as he called to mind the
unflagging manner in which Oliver had worked at his paper
that morning, covering sheet upon sheet with his answers,
and scarcely drawing in until time was up. It didn't look
like losing, this.

He threw himself back in his chair in sheer misery.

' I would sooner have done the thing myself/ groaned he
to himself, ' than Oliver.' Then suddenly he added,

' But it's not true ! I'm certain of it ! He couldn't do
it ! I'll never believe it of him ! '

Poor Wraysford ! It was easier to say the generous words
than feel them.

Pembury looked in presently with a face far more serious
and overcast than he usually wore.

' I say, Wray,' said he, in troubled tones, ' I'm regularly
floored by all this. Do you believe it ? '

'No, I don't,' replied Wraysford, but so sadly and
hesitatingly that had he at once confessed he did, he could
not have expressed his meaning more plainly.

'I'd give anything to be sure it was all false/ said
Pembury, ( and so would a lot of the fellows. As for that
fool Simon — '

' Bah ! ' exclaimed Wraysford, fiercely, ' the fellow ought
to be kicked round the school.'

' He's getting on that way already, I fancy/ said Pembury.
' I was saying I'd think nothing at all about it if what he
says was the only thing to go by, but — well, you saw what a
state Greenfield got into about it ? '

' Maybe he was just in a sudden rage with the fellow for
thinking of such a thing/ said Wraysford.

* It looked like something more than rage/ said Pembury,
dismally, ' something a good deal more.'

Wraysford said nothing, but fidgeted in his chair.

A long silence followed, each busy with his own thoughts
and both yearning for any sign of hope.

' I don't see what good it could have done him if he did

226 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM J NIC S. .

take the paper. He'd have no time to cram it up yesterday.
He was out with you, wasn't he, all the afternoon ? '

' No/ said Wraysford, not looking up, ( he had a headache
and stayed in.'

Pembury gave a low whistle of dismay.

* I say, Wray,' said he, presently, l it really does look bad,
don't you think so yourself?'

'I don't know what to think,' said Wraysford, with a
groan ; ' I'm quite bewildered.'

' It's no use pretending not to see what's as plain as
daylight,' said Pembury, as he turned and hobbled away.

The Fifth meanwhile had been holding a sort of court-
martial on the affair.

Simon was made to repeat his story once more, and stuck
to it too, in spite of all the browbeating he got.

' What makes you so sure of the exact time ? ' asked one
of his inquisitors.

1 Oh, because, you know, I wanted to get off a letter by
the post, and thought I was in time till I saw the clock
opposite the Doctor's study said five minutes past.'

* Did Greenfield say anything to you when he saw you ? '
some one else asked.

' Oh, yes, he asked me if I knew where the Doctor was.'

' Did you tell him ? '

' Oh, yes, I said he'd gone down to the hall or somewhere.'

( And did Greenfield go after him ? '

' Oh, no, you know, he went off the other way as quick as
he could,' said Simon, in a voice as though he would say,
' How can you ask such an absurd question ? '

' Did you ask him what he wanted in the study ? '

'Oh, yes; but of course he didn't tell me — not likely.
But I say, I suppose we're sure to win the Nightingale now,
aren't we ? Mind, I'm not going to tell anybody, because,
of course, it's a secret.'

* Shut up, you miserable blockhead, unless you want to be
kicked ! ' shouted Bullinger. ' No one wants to know

A TURN OF THE TIDE. 227

what you're going to do. You've done mischief enough
already. '

4 Oh, well, I didn't mean, you know, 5 said the poet; 'all
I said was I met him coming — '

' Shut up, do you hear ? or you'll catch it ! ' once more
exclaimed Bullinger.

The wretched Simon gave up further attempts to explain
himself. Still what he had said, in his blundering way, had
been quite enough.

, The thing was beyond a doubt ; and as the Fifth sat
there in judgment, a sense of shame and humiliation came
over them, to which many of them were unused.

' I know this/ said Ricketts, giving utterance to what was
passing in the minds of nearly all his class-fellows, ' I'd
sooner have lost the scholarship twenty times over than win
it like this. 7

( Precious fine glory it will be if we do get it ! ' said
Braddy.

* Unless Wray wins/ suggested Ricketts.

' No such luck as that, I'm afraid,' said Bullinger. 'That's
just the worst of it. He's not only disgraced us, but he's
swindled his best friend. It's a blackguard shame ! ' added
he, fiercely.

( At any rate, Loman is out of it, from what I hear ; he
got regularly stuck in the exam.'

' I tell you/ said Ricketts, ' I'd sooner have had Loman take
the scholarship and our two men nowhere at all, than this.'

There was nothing more than this to be said, assuredly,
to prove the disgust of the Fifth at the conduct of their

class-fellow.

' I suppose Greenfield will have the grace to confess it,

now it's all come out/ said Ricketts.

' If he doesn't I fancy we can promise him a pretty hot
time of it among us/ said Braddy.

One or two laughed at this, but to most of those present
the matter was past a joke.

228 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOM I NIC S.

For it must be said of the Dominicans — and I think it
may be said of a good many English public schoolboys
besides — that, however foolish they may have been in other
respects, however riotous, however jealous of one another,
however well satisfied with themselves, a point of honour
was a point which they all took seriously to heart. They
could forgive a schoolfellow for doing a disobedient act
sometimes, or perhaps even a vicious act, but a cowardly
or dishonourable action was a thing which nothing would
excuse, and which they felt not only a disgrace to the boy
perpetrating it, but a disgrace put upon themselves.

Had Oliver been the most popular boy-, in the school it
would have been all the same. As it was, he was a long
way from being the most popular. He never took any
pains to win the good opinion of his fellows. When, by
means of some achievement in which he excelled, he had
contrived (as in the case of the cricket match last term) to
bring glory on his school and to make himself a hero in the
eyes of St. Dominic's, he had been wont to take the applause
bestowed on him with the utmost indifference, which some
might even construe into contempt. And in precisely the
same spirit would he take the displeasure which he now and
then managed to incur.

Boys don't like this. It irritates them to see their praise
or blame made little of; and for this reason, if for no other,
Oliver would hardly have been a favourite.

But there was another reason. Now that the Fifth found

their faith in Greenfield senior rudely dashed to the ground,
they were not slow to recall the unpleasant incidents of last
term, when, by refusing to thrash Loman, he had discredited
the whole Form, and laid himself under the suspicion ot
cowardice.

Most of the fellows had at the time of the Nightingale
examination either forgotten, or forgiven, or repented of
their suspicions, and, indeed, by his challenge to Loman
the previous Saturday Oliver had been considered quite to

A TURN OF THE TIDE. 229

have redeemed his reputation in this respect. But now it
all came up again. A fellow who could do a cowardly deed
at one time could do a mean one at another. If one was
natural to his character, so was the other, and in fact one
explained the other. He was mean when he showed him-
self a coward last term. He was a coward when he did a
mean act this term.

What wonder, in these circumstances, if the Fifth felt
sore, very sore indeed, on the subject of Oliver Greenfield ?

To every one's relief, he did not put in an appearance again
that day. He kept his study, and Paul brought down word
at prayer time that he had a headache and had gone to bed.

At this the Fifth smiled grimly and said nothing.

Next morning, however, Oliver turned up as usual in his
place. He looked pale, but otherwise unconcerned, and
those who looked for traces of shame and self-abasement in
his face were sorely disappointed.

He surely must have known or guessed the resolution the

Fifth had come to with regard to him ; but from his un-
abashed manner he was evidently determined not to take
it for granted till the hint should be given pretty clearly.

On Ricketts, whose desk was next to that of Oliver, fell
the task of first giving this hint.

' How did you get on yesterday in the English Literature ? '
asked Oliver.

Ricketts* only answer was to turn his back and begin to
talk to his other neighbour.

Those who were watching this incident noticed a sudden
flush on Oliver's cheek as he stared for an instant at his late
friend. Then with an effort he seemed to recover himself.

He did not, however, attempt any further conversation
either with Ricketts or his other neighbour, Braddy, who in
a most marked manner had moved as far as possible away
from him. On the contrary, he coolly availed himself of
the extra room on the desk and busied himself silently with
the lessons for the day.

230 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

But he now and then looked furtively up in the direction
of Wraysford, who was seated at an opposite desk. The
eyes of the two friends met now and then, and when they
did each seemed greatly embarrassed. For Wraysford,
after a night's heart-searching, had come to the determina-
tion not, after all, to cut his friend ; and yet he found it
impossible to feel and behave towards him as formerly.
He tried very hard indeed not to appear constrained, but
the more he tried the more embarrassed he felt. After class
he purposely walked across the room to meet his old chum.

' How are you ? ' he said, in a forced tone and manner
utterly unlike his old self.

It was a ridiculous and feeble remark to make, and it
would have been far better had he said nothing. Oliver
stared at him for a moment in a perplexed way, and then,
without answering the question, walked somewhere else.

Wraysford was quite conscious of his own mistake ; still
it hurt him sorely that his well-meant effort, which had cost
him so much, should be thus summarily thrust aside without
a word. For the first time in his life he felt a sense of
resentment against his old friend, the beginning of a gap
which was destined to become wider as time went on.

The only person in the room who did meet Oliver on
natural ground was the poetic Simon. To him Oliver
walked up and said, quietly,

' I beg your pardon for hitting you yesterday.'

'Oh/ said Simon, with a giggle. 'Oh, it's all right,
Greenfield, you know; I never meant to let it out It'll
soon get hushed up; I don't intend to let it go a bit
farther/

The poet was too much carried away by the enthusiasm
of his own magnanimity to observe that he was in imminent
risk, during the delivery of this speech, of another blow a
good deal more startling than that of yesterday. When he
concluded, he found Oliver had left him to himself and
hurriedly quitted the room.

( 231 )

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION.

HE adventures of the morning did not certainly tend
to make the Fifth think better of Oliver Greenfield.

Had he appeared before them humble and penitent, there
were some who even then might have tried to forgive him
and forget what was done. But instead of that be was
evidently determined to brazen the thing out, and had
begun by snubbing the very fellows whom he had so deeply
injured.

Wraysford felt specially hurt. It had cost him a good
deal to put on a friendly air and speak as if nothing had
happened ; and to find himself scorned for his pains and
actually avoided by the friend who had wronged him was
too much. But even that would not have been so bad, had
not Oliver immediately gone and made up to Simon before
all the class.

Wraysford did not remain to join in the chorus of in-
dignation in which the others indulged after morning school
was over. He left them and strolled out dismally into the
playground.

He must do something ! He must know one way or the
other what to think of Oliver. Even now he would gladly
believe that it was all a dream, and that nothing had come
between him and his old friend. But the more he pondered
it the more convinced he became it was anything but a
dream.

232 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOM/NfC'S.

He wandered unconsciously beyond the playground to-
wards the woods on the side of the Shar, where he and
Oliver had walked so often in the old days.

The old days ! It was but yesterday that they had last
walked there. Yet what an age ago it seemed ! and how
impossible that the old days should ever come back again.

He had not got far into the wood when he heard what
seemed to him familiar footsteps ahead of him. Yesterday
he would have shouted and whistled and called on the fellow
to hold hard. But now he had no such inclination. His
impulse was to turn round and go back.

i And yet/ thought he, 'why should I go back? If it is
Oliver, what have /to feel ashamed of? '

And so he advanced. The boy in front of him was walk-
ing slowly, and Wraysford soon came in view of him. As
he expected, it was Oliver.

At the sight of his old friend, wandering here solitary and
listless, all Wraysford's old affection came suddenly back.
At least he would make one more effort. So he quickened
his pace. Oliver turned and saw him coming. But he did
not wait. He walked on slowly as before, apparently in-
different to the approach of anybody.

This was a damper certainly to Wraysford. At least Oliver
might have guessed why his friend was coming after him.

It was desperately hard to know how to begin a conversa-
tion. Oliver trudged on, sullen and silent, in anything but
an encouraging manner. Still, Wraysford, now his mind
was made up, was not to be put from his purpose.

' Noll, old man,' he began, in as much of his old tone and
manner as he could assume.

' Well? ' said Oliver, not looking up.

' Aren't we to be friends still ? '

The question cost the speaker a hard effort, and evidently
went home. Oliver stopped short in his walk, and looking
full in his old friend's face, said,

' Why do you ask ? '

234 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC 'S.

'Because I'm afraid we are not friends at this moment.'

' And whose fault is that ? ' said Oliver, scornfully.

The question stung Wraysford as much as it amazed
him. Was he, then, of all the fellows in the school, to have
an explanation thus demanded of him from one who had
done him the most grievous personal wrong one schoolboy
well could do to another ?

His face flushed as he replied slowly,

' Your fault, Greenfield ; how can you ask ? '

Oliver gave a short ]augh very like contempt, and then
turned suddenly on his heel, leaving Wraysford smarting
with indignation, and finally convinced that between his
old friend and himself there was a gulf which now it would
be hard indeed to bridge over.

He returned moodily to the school. Stephen was busy
in his study getting tea.

i Hullo, Wray,' he shouted, as the elder boy entered ;
'don't' you wish it was this time to-morrow? I do, I'm
mad to hear the result ! '

' Are you ? ' said Wraysford.

' Yes, and so are you, you old humbug. Noll says he
thinks he did pretty well, and that you answered well too.
I say, what a joke if it's a dead heat, and you both get
bracketed first/

' Cut away now,' said Wraysford, as coolly as he could,
' and don't make such a row.'

There was something unusual in his tone which surprised
the small boy. He put it down, however, to worry about
the examination, and quietly withdrew as commanded.

The next day came at last. Two days ago, in the Fifth
Form, at any rate, it would have been uphill work for any
master to attempt to conduct morning class in the face of
all the eagerness and enthusiasm with which the result of
the examinations would have been looked for. Now, how-
ever, there was all the suspense, indeed, but it was the sus-
pense of dread rather than triumph.

THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION. 235

' Never mind/ said Ricketts to Pembury, after the two
had been talking over the affair for the twentieth time.
' Never mind; and there's just this, Tony, if Wray is only
second, it will be a splendid win for the Fifth all the same/

' I see nothing splendid in the whole concern/ said Pem-
bury. And that was the general feeling.

Oliver entered and took his accustomed seat in silence.
No one spoke to him, many moved away from him, and
nearly all favoured him with a long and unfriendly stare.

All these things he took unmoved. He sat coolly waiting
for class to begin, and when it did begin, any one would
have supposed he was the only comfortable and easy-minded
fellow in the room. The lesson dragged on languidly that
morning. Most of the boys seemed to regard it as some-
thing inflicted on them to pass the time rather than as a
serious effort of instruction. The clock crawled slowly on
from ten to eleven, and from eleven to half-past, and every
one was glad when at last Mr. Jellicott closed his book.
Then followed an interval of suspense. The Doctor was
due with the results, and was even now announcing them in
the Sixth. What ages it seemed before his footsteps sounded
in the passage outside the Fifth !

At last he entered, and a hush fell over the class. One
or two glanced quickly up, as though they hoped to read
their fate in the head master's face. Others waited, too
anxious to stir or look up. Others groaned inwardly with
a sort of prophetic foresight of what was to come.

The Doctor walked up to the desk and unfolded his
paper.

Wraysford looked furtively across the room to where his
old friend sat. There was a flush in Oliver's face as he
followed the Doctor with his eyes ; he was breathing hard,
Wraysford could see, and the corners of his mouth were
working with more than ordinary nervousness.

6 Alas ! ' thought Wraysford, ' I don't envy him his
thoughts ! '

236 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS,

The Doctor began to speak.

'The following are the results of the various examina-
tions held on Monday. English Literature — maximum
number of marks 100. 1st, Bullinger, 72 marks ; 2nd,
West, 68; 3rd, Maybury, 51 ; 4th, Simon, 23. I'm afraid,
Simon, you were a little too venturesome entering for an
examination like this. Your paper was a very poor per-
formance. '

Simon groaned and gulped down his astonishment.

' I say,' whispered he to Oliver, who sat in front of him,
1 1 know it's a mistake : you know I wrote five cantos about
the Shar — good too. He's lost that. I say, had I better
tell him ? '

Oliver vouchsafing no reply, the unfortunate poet merely
replied to the head master's remarks, 'Yes, sir/ and then
subsided, more convinced than ever that St. Dominic's was
not worthy of him.

' The Mathematical Medal — maximum number of marks
80. 1st, Heath, 65; 2nd, Price, 54; 3rd, Roberts, 53.
Heath's answers, I may say, were very good, and the
examiners have specially commended him/

Heath being a Sixth Form man, this information was
absolutely without interest to the Fifth, who wondered why
the Doctor should put himself out of the way to announce it.

'The Nightingale Scholarship.'

Ah, now ! There was a quick stir, and then a deeper
silence than ever as the Doctor slowly read out,

'The maximum number of marks possible, 120. First,
Greenfield, Fifth Form, 112 marks. And I must say I and
the examiners are astonished as well as highly gratified with
this really brilliant performance. Greenfield, I congratulate
you as well as your class-fellows on your success. It does
you the very greatest credit ! '

A dead 4 silence followed this eulogium. Those who
watched Oliver saw his face first glow, then turn pale, as
the Doctor spoke. He kept his eyes steadily fixed on the

THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION. 237

paper in the head master's hand, as if waiting for what was
to follow.

The Doctor went on,

'Second, Wraysford, Fifth Form, 97 marks, also a credit-
able performance.'

One or two near Wraysford clapped him warmly on the
back, and throughout the class generally there was a show
of satisfaction at this result, in strange contrast with the
manner in which the announcement of Oliver's success had
been received.

Still, every one was too eager to hear the third and final
announcement to disturb the proceedings by any demon-
stration just now.

* Loman, Sixth Form — ' and here the Doctor paused, and
knitted his brows.

' Loman, Sixth Form, 70 marks ! '

This finally brought down the house. Scarcely was the
Doctor's back turned, when a general clamour rose on every
hand. He, good man, set it down to applause of the
winners, but every one else knew it meant triumph over the
vanquished.

' Bravo, Wray I old man. Hurrah for the Fifth ! ' shouted
Bullinger.

* Ninety-seven to seventy. Splendid, old fellow ! ' cried
another.

' I was certain you'd win,' said another.

' I have not won/ said Wraysford, drily, and evidently
not liking these marked congratulations ; ' I'm second.'

' So you are, I quite forgot,' said Ricketts : then turning
to Oliver, he added, mockingly,

1 Allow me to congratulate you, Greenfield, on your really
brilliant success. 112 marks out of 120! You could
hardly have done better if you had seen the paper a day
or two before the exam. ! Your class, I assure you, are
very proud of you.'

A general sneer of contempt followed this speech, in the

238 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

midst of which Oliver, after darting one angry glance at

the speaker, deliberately quitted the room.

This proceeding greatly irritated the Fifth, who had
hoped at least to make their class-fellow smart while they
had the opportunity. They greeted his departure now with
a general chorus of hissing, and revenged themselves in
his absence by making the most of Wraysford.

( Surely the fellow won't be allowed to take the scholar-
ship after this?' said Ricketts. 'The Doctor must see
through it all.'

'It's very queer if he doesn't,' said Bullinger.

' The scholarship belongs to Wray,' said Braddy, ' and I
mean to say it's a blackguard shame if he doesn't get it ! '

' It's downright robbery, that's what it is ! ' said another ;
' the fellow ought to be kicked out of the school ! '

' I vote some one tells the Doctor,' said Braddy.

6 Suppose you go and tell him now, yourself,' said Pern-
bury, with a sarcastic smile ; ' you could do it capitally.
What do you say ? '

Braddy coloured. Pembury was always snubbing him.

' I don't want to tell tales/ he said. ' What I mean is,
Wraysford ought not to be cheated out of his scholarship.*

i It's a lucky thing Wray has got you to set things right
for him/ snarled Pembury, amid a general titter.

Braddy subsided at this, and left his tormentor master
of the situation.

' There's no use our saying or doing anything/ said that
worthy. ' We shall probably only make things worse. It's
sure to come out in time, and till then we must grin and
bear it.'

' All very well/ said some one, ' but Greenfield will be
grinning too.'

' I fancy not/ said Pembury. ' I'm not a particular angel
myself, but I've a notion if I had cheated a schoolfellow
I should be a trifle off my grinning form ; I don't know.'

This modest confession caused some amusement, and

THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION. 239

helped a good deal to restore the class to a better
humour.

'After all, I don't envy the fellow his feelings this minute,'
continued Pembury, following up his advantage.

' And I envy his prospects in the Fifth still less,' said
Ricketts.

' If you take my advice/ said Pembury, ' you'll leave him
pretty much to himself. Greenfield is a sort of fellow it's
not easy to score off ; and some of you would only make
fools of yourselves if you tried to do it.'

Wraysford had stood by during this conversation, torn
by conflicting emotions. He was undoubtedly bitterly
disappointed to have missed the scholarship ; but that
was as nothing to the knowledge that it was his friend,
his own familiar friend, who had turned against him and
thus grievously wronged him. Yet with all his sense of
injury he could hardly stand by and listen to all the bitter
talk about Oliver in his absence without a sense of shame.
Two days ago he would have flared up at the first word,
and given the rash speaker something to remember. Now
it was his misery to stand by and hear his old chum
abused and despised, and to feel that he deserved every
word that was spoken of him !

If he could only have found one word to say on his
behalf !

But he could not, and so left the room as soon as it was
possible to escape, and retired disconsolately to his own
study.

As for the Fifth, Pembury's advice prevailed with them.
There were a few who were still disposed to take their
revenge on Oliver in a more marked manner than by merely
cutting him ; but a dread of the tongue of the editor of the
Dominican^ as well as a conviction of the uselessness of such
procedure, constrained them to give way and fall in with
the general resolution.

One boy only was intractable. That was Simon. It

240 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

was not in the poet's nature to agree to cut anybody.
When the class dispersed he took it into his gifted head to
march direct to Oliver's study. Oliver was there, writing a
letter.

'Oh, I say, you know/ began Simon, nervously, but
smiling most affably, ' all the fellows are going to cut you,
you know, Greenfield. About that paper, you know, the
time I met you coming out of the Doctor's study. But /
won't cut you, you know. We'll hush it all up, you know,
Greenfield ; upon my word we will. But the fellows
think—'

( That will do ! ' said Oliver, angrily.

' Oh, but you know, Greenfield

* Look here, if you don't get out of my study,' said
Oliver, rising to his feet, ' I'll — '

Before he could finish his sentence the poet, who after
all was one of the best-intentioned jackasses in St. Dominic's,
had vanished.

( 241 )

CHAPTER XXV.

LOMAN IN LUCK.

WHILE we have been talking of Oliver and Wraysford,
and of the manner in which the results of the Night-
ingale examination affected them and the class to which they
belonged, the reader will hardly have forgotten that there was
another whose interest in that result was fully as serious and
fully as painful.

Loman had been counting on gaining the scholarship to
a dead certainty. From the moment when it occurred to
him he would be able to free himself of his money diffi-
culties with Cripps by winning it, he had dismissed, or
seemed to dismiss, all further anxiety from his mind. He
never doubted that he in the Sixth could easily beat the two
boys in the Fifth ; and though, as we have seen, he now
and then felt a sneaking misgiving on the subject, it never
seriously disturbed his confidence.

Now, however, he was utterly floored. He did not need
to wait for the announcement of the results to be certain he
had not won, for he had known his fate the moment his
eyes glanced down the questions on the paper on the morn-
ing of examination.

At his last interview with Cripps that memorable Saturday
afternoon, he had promised confidently to call at the Cock-
chafer next Thursday with the news of the result, as a
further guarantee for the payment of the thirty pounds,

242 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

never doubting what that result would be. How was he to
face this interview now ?

He could never tell Cripps straight out that he had been
beaten in the examination ; that would be the same thing as
telling him to go at once to the Doctor or his father with
the document which the boy had signed, and expose the
whole affair. And it would be no use making a poor mouth
to the landlord of the Cockchafer and begging to be for-
given the debt ; Loman knew enough by this time to feel
convinced of the folly of that. What was to be done?

'I shall have to humbug the fellow some way/ said
Loman to himself, as he sat in his study the afternoon after
the announcement of the result. And then followed an
oath.

Loman had been going from bad to worse the last month.
Ever since he had begun, during the holidays, regularly to
frequent the Cockchafer, and to discover that it was his
interest to make himself agreeable to the man he disliked

and feared, the boy's vicious instincts had developed
strangely. Company which before would have offended
him, he now found — especially when it flattered him— con-
genial, and words and acts from which in former days he
would have shrunk now came naturally.

* I shall have to humbug the fellow somehow/ said he ;
1 1 only wish I knew how;' and then Loman set himself
deliberately to invent a lie for Mr. Cripps.

A charming afternoon's occupation this for a boy of
seventeen !

He sat and pondered for an hour or more, sometimes
fancying he had hit upon the object of his search, and some-
times finding himself quite off the tack. Had Cripps only

known what care and diligence was being bestowed on him
that afternoon he would assuredly have been highly
flattered.

At length he seemed to come to a satisfactory decision,
and, naturally exhausted by such severe mental exertion,

LOMAN IN' L TICK. 243

Loman quitted his study and sought in the playground the
fresh air and diversion he so much needed.

One of the first boys he met there was Simon.

' Hullo, Loman ! ' said that amiable genius, ( would you

have believed it ? '

* Believed what? ' said Loman.

' Oh ! you know, I thought you knew, about the Nightin-
gale, you know. I say, how jolly low you came out ! '

' Look here ! you'd better hold your row ! ' said Loman,
surlily, ' unless you want a hiding.'

' Oh ; it's not that, you know. What I meant was about
Greenfield senior. Isn't that a go ? '

' What about him ? Why can't you talk like an ordinary
person, and not like a howling jackass ? '

' Why, you know/ said Simon, off whom all such pretty
side compliments as these were wont to roll like water off a
duck's back — ' why, you know, about that paper? '

' What paper ? ' said Loman, impatiently.

' The one that was stolen out of the Doctor's study, you
know. Isn't that a go ? But we're going to hush it up.
Honour bright ! '

Loman's face at that moment was anything but encour-
aging. Somehow, this roundabout way of the poet's
seemed particularly aggravating to him, for he turned quite
pale with rage, and, seizing the unhappy bard by the throat,
said, with an oath, ' What do you mean, you miserable
beast ? What about the paper ? '

' Oh ! ' said Simon, not at all put about by this rough
handling — ' why, don't you know? we know who took it,
we do ; but we're all going to — '

But at this point Simon's speech was interrupted, for the
very good reason that Loman's grip on his throat became
so very tight that the wretched poet nearly turned black in
the face.

With another oath the Sixth Form boy exclaimed, ' Who
took it? '

244 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

'Why — don't you know?— oh! — oh, I say, mind my
throat ! — haven't you heard ? — why, Greenfield senior, you
know 1 '

Loman let go his man suddenly and stared at him.
1 Greenfield senior ? ' he exclaimed in amazement.
'Yes; would you have thought it? None of us would —
we're all going to hush it up, you know, honour bright we

are.'

* Who told you he took it ? '

* Why, you know, /saw him;' and here Simon giggled
jubilantly, to mark what astonishment his disclosure was
causing.

' You saw him take it ? ' asked Loman, astounded.

' Yes ; that is, I saw him coming out of the Doctor's
study with it. 7

1 You did ? '

1 Yes ; that is, of course he must have had it ; and he
says so himself/

' What, Greenfield says he took the paper ? ' exclaimed
Loman, in utter astonishment.

'Yes; that is, he doesn't say he didn't; and all the
fellows are going to cut him dead, but we mean to hush it
up if we can.'

'Hush yourself up, that's what you'd better do,' said
Loman, turning his back unceremoniously on his informant,
and proceeding, full of this strange news, on his solitary
walk. What was in his mind as he went along I cannot
tell you. I fancy it was hardly sorrow at the thought that
a schoolfellow could stoop to a mean, dishonest action,
nor, I think, was it indignation on Wraysford's or his own
account.

Indeed, the few boys who passed Loman that afternoon
were struck with the cheerfulness of his appearance. Con-
sidering he had been miserably beaten in the scholarship
examination, this show of satisfaction was all the more
remarkable.

LOMAN IN L UCK. 245

' The fellow seems quite proud of himself/ said Callonby
to Wren as they passed him.

( He's the only fellow who is, if that's so/ said Wren.

Loman stopped and spoke to them as they came up.

' Hullo ! you fellows/ said he, in as free and easy a man-
ner as one fellow can assume to others who he knows dis-
like him, 'I wanted to see you. Which way are you
going ? — back to the school ? '

1 Wren and I are going a stroll together/ said Callonby,
coldly ; 'good-bye.'

' Half a minute/ said Loman. ' I suppose you heard the
results of the Nightingale read out'

' Considering I was sitting on the same form with you
when they were, I suppose I did/ said Wren.

* That's all right/ said Loman, evidently determined not
to notice the snubbing bestowed on him. ' Mine wasn't a
very loud score, was it ? Seventy ! I was surprised it was
as much ! '

The two Sixth boys looked at him inquiringly.

' The fact is, I never tried to answer/ said Loman, ( and
for a very good reason. I suppose you know.'

' No— what ? ' asked they.

' Haven't you heard ? I thought it Vas all over the
school. You heard about the Doctor missing a paper? '

' Yes ; what about it ? Was it found, or lost, or what ? '

' No one owned to having taken it, that's certain.'

' I should hope not. Not the sort of thing any fellow
here would do.'

* That's just what I should have thought/ said Loman.
' But the fact is, some one did take it — you can guess who —
and you don't suppose I was going to be fool enough to take
any trouble over my answers when I knew one of the other
fellows had had the paper in his pocket a day and a half
before the exam.' And here Loman laughed.

6 Do you mean to say Greenfield stole it?' exclaimed both
the friends at once, in utter astonishment.

246 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

' I mean to say you're not far wrong. But you'd better
ask some of the Fifth. It's all come out, I hear, there/

'And you knew of it before the exam. ? '

' 1 guessed it ; or you may be sure I'd have taken a little
more trouble over my answers. It wasn't much use as it
was.'

Loman had the satisfaction of seeing the two Sixth boys
depart in amazement, and the still greater satisfaction of
seeing them a little later in confidential conference with
Simon, from whom he guessed pretty correctly they would
be sure to get a full 'all-round* narrative of the whole
affair.

' I'm all right with the Sixth, anyhow,' muttered he to him-
self. ' I only wish I was as right with that blackguard
Cripps.'

'That blackguard Cripps' had, next afternoon, the
peculiar pleasure of welcoming his young friend and patron
under the hospitable roof of the Cockchafer. As usual, he

was as surprised as he was delighted at the honour done

r

him, and could not imagine for the life of him to what he
was indebted for so charming a condescension. In other
words, he left Loman to open the business as best he
could.

' 1 promised to come and tell you about the examination,
didn't I?'

' Eh ? Oh, yes, to be sure. That was last Saturday.
Upon my word, I'd quite forgotten.'

Of course Loman knew this was false ; but he had to look
pleasant and answer,

* Well, you see, my memory was better than yours.'

' Right you are, young captain. And what about this

here fifty-pound dicky-bird you've been after?'

'The Nightingale?' said Loman. ' Oh, it's all right, of

course; but the fact is, I forgot when I promised you the
money now, that of course they — '

' Oh, come now, none of your gammon/ said Mr. Cripps,

L OMA N IN L UCIC 2 47

angrily ; ( a promise is a promise, and I expect young swells
as makes them to keep them, mind that.'

( Oh, of course I'll keep them, Cripps. What I was say-
ing was that they don't pay you the money till the beginning

of each year.'

Loman omitted to mention, as he had omitted to men-
tion all along, that young gentlemen who win scholarships
do not, as a rule, have the money they win put into their
hands to do as they like with. But this was a trifling slip of
the memory, of course !

' I don't care when they pay you your money ! All I
know is I must have mine now, my young dandy. Next
week the time's up.'

'But, Cripps, how can I pay you unless I've got the
money ? '

' No, no ; I've had enough of that, young gentleman.
This time I'm a-going to have my way, or the governor shall

know all about it, — you see ! '

( Oh, don't say that ! ' said Loman. ' Wait a little longer
and it will be all right, it really will/

' Not a bit of it. That's what you said three months ago,'
replied Cripps.

' I won't ask you again/ pleaded the boy ; 'just this time,
Cripps.'

'Why, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, that you
ought,' exclaimed the virtuous landlord of the Cockchafer,
' a keeping a honest man out of his money ! '

' Oh, but I'm certain to have it then — that is, next to
certain.'

' Oh ! then what you're telling me about this here Night-
ingale of yours is a lie, is it ? ' said the 'cute Mr. Cripps.
' You ain't got it at all, ain't you ? '

Loman could have bitten his tongue off for making such
a blunder.

'A lie? No; that is— Why, Cripps, the fact is—' he
stammered, becoming suddenly very red.

243 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

( Well, drive on/ said Cripps, enjoying the boy's confusion,
and proud of his own sharpness.

'The fact is — I was going to tell you, Cripps, I was really;
there's been something wrong about this exam. One of the
fellows stole one of the papers, and so got the scholarship
unfairly/

'And I can make a pretty good guess,' said Mr. Cripps,
with a grin, ' which of the fellows that gentleman was/

* No, it wasn't me, Cripps, really/ said Loman, pale and
quite humble in the presence of his creditor ; ' it was one of
the others — Greenfield in the Fifth ; the fellow, you know,
who struck you on Saturday/

'What, him?' exclaimed Cripps, astonished for once in a
way. 'That bloke? Why, he looked a honest sort of chap,
he did, though I do owe him one/

' Oh/ said Loman, following up this temporary advantage,
'he's a regular swindler, is Greenfield. He stole the
paper, you know, and so won the scholarship, of course.

I was certain of it, if it hadn't been for that. I mean
to have a row made about it, and there's certain to be
another exam., so that I'm sure of the money if you'll
only wait.'

' And how long do you want me to wait, I'd like to know ? '
said Cripps,

' Oh, till after Christmas, please, at any rate. It'll be all
right then, I'll answer for that/

1 You'll answer for a lot of things, it strikes me, young
gentleman/ said Cripps, ' before you've done/

There were signs of relenting in this speech which the boy
was quick to take advantage of.

' Do wait till then ! ' he said, beseechingly.

Cripps pretended to meditate.

'I don't see how I can. I'm a poor man, got my rent to
pay and all that. Look here, young gentleman, I must have
;£io down, if I'm to wait/

* Ten pounds ! I haven't as much in the woild ! ' exclaimed

LOMAN IN LUCK. 249

Loman. 'lean give you five pounds, though/ he added.
* I've just got a note from home to-day.'

'Five's no use,' said Cripps, contemptuously, 'wouldn't
pay not the interest. You'll have to make it a tenner, young
gentleman.'

'Don't say that, Cripps, I'd gladly do it if I could; I'd
pay you every farthing, and so I will if you only wait/

'That's just the way with you young swells. You get
your own ways, and leave other people to get theirs best way
they can. Where's your five pound ?'

Loman promptly produced this, and Cripps as promptly
pocketed it, adding,

' Well, I suppose I'll have to give in. How long do you
say — two months ? '

'Three,' said Loman. 'Oh, thanks, Cripps, I really will
pay up then.'

' You'd better, because, mind you, if you don't, I shall
walk straight to the governor. Don't make any mistake
about that.'

'Oh, yes, so you may,' said the wretched Loman, willing
to promise anything in his eagerness.

Finally it was settled. Cripps was to wait three months
longer ; and Loman, although knowing perfectly well that
there was absolutely less chance then of having the money
than there had been now, felt a weight temporarily taken off
his mind, and was all gratitude.

Of course, he stayed a while as usual and tasted Mr.
Cripps's beer, and of course he met again not a few of his
new friends — sharpers, most of them, of Cripps's own stamp,
or green young gentlemen of the town, like Loman himself.
From one of the latter Loman had the extraordinary ' good
luck ' that afternoon to win three pounds over a wager, a
sum which he at once handed over to Cripps in the most
virtuous way, in further liquidation of his debt.

Indeed, as he left the place, and wandered slowly back
to St. Dominic's, he felt quite encouraged.

250 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

i There's eight pounds of it paid right off/ said he to him-
self; ' and before Christmas something is sure to turn up.

Besides, I'm sure to get some more money from home
between now and then. Oh, it'll be all right ! '

So saying he tried to dismiss the matter from his mind
and think of pleasanter subjects, such, for instance, as
Oliver's crime, and his own clever use of it to delude the
Sixth.

Things altogether were looking up with Loman. Cheat-
ing, lying, and gambling looked as if they would pay after
all!

(2 5 I)

CHAPTER XXVI.

AT COVENTRY.

WERE you ever at Coventry, reader ? I don't mean the
quaint old Warwickshire city, but that other place
where from morning till night you are shunned and avoided
by everybody ? Where friends with whom you were once
on the most intimate terms now pass you without a word,
or look another way as you go by ? Where, whichever way
you go, you find yourself alone? Where every one you
speak to is deaf, every one you appear before is blind, every
one you go near has business somewhere else ? Where you
will be left undisturbed in your study for a week, to fag for
yourself, study by yourself, disport yourself with yourself?
Where in the playground you will be as solitary as if you
were in the desert, in school you will be a class by your-
self, and even in church on Sundays you will feel hopelessly
out in the cold among your fellow- worshippers ?

If you have ever been to such a place, you can imagine
Oliver Greenfield's experiences during this Christmas term
at St Dominic's.

When the gentlemen of the Fifth Form had once made
up their minds to anything, they generally carried it through
with great heartiness, and certainly they never succeeded
better in any undertaking than in this of ' leaving Oliver to

himself.'

The only drawback to their success was that the proceed-
ing appeared to have little or no effect on the VQry person

252 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

on whose behalf it was undertaken. Not that Oliver could
be quite insensible of the honours paid him. He could
not — they were too marked for that. And without doubt
they were as unpleasant as they were unmistakable. But,
for any sign of unhappiness he displayed, the whole affair
might have been a matter of supreme indifference to him.
Indeed, it looked quite as much as if Greenfield had sent
the Fifth to Coventry as the Fifth Greenfield. If they de-
termined none of them to speak to him, he was equally
determined none of them should have the chance \ and if it
was part of their scheme to leave him as much as possible
to himself, they had little trouble in doing it, for he, except
when inevitable, never came near them.

Of course this was dreadfully irritating to the Fifth ! The
moral revenge they had promised themselves on the dis-
gracer of their class never seemed to come off. The wind
was taken out of their sails at every turn. The object of
their aversion was certainly not reduced to humility or

penitence by their conduct ; on the contrary, one or two of
them felt decidedly inclined to be ashamed of themselves
and feel foolish when they met their victim.

Oliver always had been a queer fellow, and he now came
out in a queerer light than ever.

Having once seen how the wind lay, and what he had to
expect from the Fifth, he altered the course of his life to suit
the new circumstances with the greatest coolness. Instead
of going up the river in a pair-oar or a four, he now went
up in a sculling boat or a canoe, and seemed to enjoy him-
self quite as much. Instead of doing his work with Wrays-
ford evening after evening, he now did it undisturbed by
himself, and, to judge by his progress in class, more success-
fully than ever. Instead of practising with the fifteens at
football, he went in for a regular course of practice in the
gymnasium, and devoted himself with remarkable success to
the horizontal bar and the high jump. Instead of casting
in his lot in class with a jovial though somewhat distracting

AT COVENTRY. 253

set, he now kept his mind free for his studies, and earned
the frequent commendation of the Doctor and Mr. Jellicott.

Now, reader, I ask you, if you had been one of the Fifth
of St. Dominic's would not all this have been very riling ?
Here was a fellow convicted of a shameful piece of deceit,
caught, one might say, in the very act, and by his own conduct
as good as admitting it. Here was a fellow, I say, whom every
sensible boy ought to avoid, not only showing himself utterly
indifferent to the aversion of his class-fellows, but positively
thriving and triumphing before their very faces ! Was it any
wonder if they felt very sore, and increasingly sore on the
subject of Oliver Greenfield ?

One boy, of course, stuck to the exile through thick and
thin. If Oliver had murdered all St. Dominic's with slow
poison, Stephen would have stuck to him to the end, and
he stuck to him now. He, at least, never once admitted
that his brother was guilty. When slowly he first discovered
what were the suspicions of the Fifth, and what was the
common talk of the school about Oliver, the small boy's
indignation was past description. He rushed to his brother.

' Do you hear the lies the fellows are telling about you,

Noll ? '

' Yes,' said Oliver.

* Why don't you stop it, and tell them ? ?

' What's the use ? I've told them once. If they don't
choose to believe it, they needn't'

Any other boy would, of course, have taken this as clear
evidence of the elder brother's guilt ; but it only strengthened
the small boy's indignation.

' Til let them know, if you won't ! ' and forthwith he went
and proceeded to make himself a perfect nuisance in the
school. He began with Wraysford.

i I say, Wray," he demanded, * do you hear all the lies
the fellows are telling about Noll ? '

'Don't make a row now/ said Wraysford, shortly. 'I'm
busy.' But Stephen had no notion of being put down.

254 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMJNICS.

6 The fellows say he stole an exam, paper, the blackguards !
I'd like to punch all their heads, and I will too ! '

' Clear out of my study, now,' said Wraysford, sharply.

Stephen stared at him a moment. Then his face grew
pale as he grasped the meaning of it all.

i I say, Wray, surely you don't believe it ? ' he cried.

'Go away now/ was Wraysford's only answer.

Eut this did not suit Stephen, his blood was up, and he
meant to have it out.

* Surely you don't believe it ?' he repeated, disregarding
the impatience of the other ; c you aren't a blackguard, like
the rest ? '

' Do you hear what I tell you ? ' said Wraysford.

' No, and I don't mean to ! ' retorted the irate Stephen.
* If you were anything of a friend you'd stand up for Oliver.
You're a beast, Wraysford, that's what you are ! ' continued
he, in a passion. ' You're a blackguard ! you're a liar ! I
could kill you ! '

And the poor boy, wild with rage and misery, actually

flung himself blindly upon his brother's old friend — the
saviour of his own life.

Wraysford was not angry. There was more of pity in his
face than anger as he took the small boy by the arm and led
him to the door. Stephen no longer resisted. After giving
vent to the first flood of his anger, misery got the upper
hand of him, and he longed to go anywhere to hide it. He
could have endured to know that Oliver was suspected by a
good many of the fellows, but to find Wraysford among them
was a cruel blow.

But in due time his indignation again came to the fore,
and he ventured on another crusade. This time it was to
Pembury. He knew before he went he had little enough
to expect from the sharp-tongued editor of the Dominican,
so he went hoping little.

To his surprise, however, Pembury was kinder than usual.
He told him plainly that he did suspect Oliver, and ex-

AT COVENTRY. 255

plained why, and advised brephen, if he were wise, to say
as little about Oliver as possible at present. The young
champion was quite cowed by this unexpected reception.
He did his best to fly in a rage and be defiant, but it was no
use, and he retired wofully discomfited from the interview.

Others to whom he applied, when once again his anger
got the better of his wretchedness, met him with taunts,
others with contempt, others with positive unkindness ; and
after a week Stephen gave it up and retired in dudgeon to
the territory of the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles, determined
that there at least he would, at the edge ot the knuckle, if
needs be, compel a faction to declare for his brother.

In this undertaking, I need hardly say, he was eminently

successful. There were those among the Guinea-pigs and
Tadpoles who were ready to declare for anybody or any-
thing as long as there was a chance of a row on the head of
it. Already the question of Greenfield senior had been
occupying their magnificent minds. When the story first
fell suddenly into their midst, it was so surprising that, like
the frogs and the log in the fable, they were inclined to be
a little shy of it. But, gradually becoming accustomed to it,
and looking carefully into it from all sides, it seemed some-
how to contain the promise of a jolly row, and their hearts
warmed to it proportionally. No one quite liked to start
the thing at first, for fear doubtless of not doing it full justice,
but it only wanted a spark to kindle the whole lower school
on the question of Greenfield senior. Stephen it was who
supplied the spark.

He entered the Fourth Juror room one day, after one of
the unsuccessful crusades of which we have spoken, utterly
cast down and out of humour. He flung his cap on to the
peg, and himself on to his seat, in an unusually agitated
manner, and then, to the astonishment of everybody, broke
out into tears !

This was a rare and glorious opportunity, of course, for
Bramble.

256 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

' Beastly young blub-baby ! ' exclaimed that doughty hero,
' you're always blubbing ! I never knew such a fellow to
blub, did you, Padger ? '

Padger said it was worse than the baby at home, and the
two thereupon started a mocking caterwaul on their own
account, in which not a few of their nearest and dearest
friends joined.

This performance had the effect of restoring Stephen's
composure. Hastily dashing away his tears, he flew with
unwonted wrath at his enemy. Bramble, however, managed
to get behind Padger and the rest, and thus fortified shouted
out,

' Yah, boo, howling young sucking pig ! go home to your
mammy, or your great big cheat of a blackguard thief of a
caddish big brother ! Do you hear ? Who stole the exam.
paper? Eh, Padger? Yah, boo, pack of sneaking Guinea-
pigs ! '

This last objurgation, which was quite unnecessary to the

beauty or force of the speech, gave rise to a huge tumult.

The Guinea-pigs present took it up as a direct challenge
to themselves, and it decided them instantly to declare in
favour of Stephen and his big brother. Paul led the attack.

* Shut up, you young cad, will you ? ' said he ; ' you
know well enough you stole the paper.'

Of course no one, not even Paul himself, attached any
meaning to such an absurd accusation, but it came con-
veniently to hand.

This declaration of war was promptly taken up on all sides,
and for a short period the Fourth Junior had a rather dusty
appearance. When at length a little order was restored, a
lively discussion on the crime of Greenfield senior ensued.
The Tadpoles to a man believed in it, and gave it as their
candid opinion that the fellow ought to be hung. * Yes, and
expelled too !' added a few of the more truculent.

The Guinea-pigs, on the other hand, whatever they thought,
protested vehemently that Greenfield senior was the most

AT COVENTRY. 2$7

virtuous, heroic, saintly, and jolly fellow in all St. Dominic's,
and denounced the Tadpoles and all the rest of the school
as the most brutal ruffians in Christendom.

'They ought all to be expelled, every one of them/ said
one; ' all except Greenfield senior, and I hope they will be.'

' All I know is/ said Paul, ' I'll let them have a bit of my
mind, some of them.'

' So will 1/ said another.

'You haven't got any to give 'em a bit of/ squealed

Bramble, ' so now ! '

'All right, I'll give 'em a bit ol you then/ retorted Paul.

'You wouldn't get any of them to touch him with a pair
of tongs/ added another.

This was too much for Bramble, and another brief period
of dust ensued. Then, comparative quiet once more pre-
vailing, Paul said,

' I tell you what, / mean to stick to Greenfield senior.'

' So do 1/ said another youth, with his face all over ink.
' I mean to fag for him.'

' So do I ! ' shouted another.

' So do 1 1 ' shouted another.

And a general chorus of assent hailed the idea.

' We'll all fag for him, I vote, eh, Stee?' said Paul, 'the
whole lot of us ! My eye, that'll be prime ! Won't the
others just about look black and blue ! '

It was a magnificent idea ! And no sooner conceived than
executed.

There was a great rush of Guinea-pigs to Oliver's study.
He was not there. So much the better. They would give
him a delightful surprise !

So they proceeded straightway to empty his cupboards
and drawers, to polish up his cups, to unfold his clothes and
fold them again, to take down his books and put them up
again, to upset his ink and mop it up with one of his hand-
kerchiefs, to make his tea and spill it on the floor, to dirty
his collars with their inky hands, to clean his boots with

258 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

his hatbrush, and many otfier thoughtful and friendly acts
calculated to make the heart of their hero glad.

In the midst of their orgies, Wraysford and Pembury
passed the door, and stopped to look in, wondering what on
earth the tumult was about. But they were greeted with
such a storm of yells and hisses that they passed on, a little

uneasy in their minds as to whether or no hydrophobia had
broken out in St. Dominic's.

After them a detachment of Tadpoles, headed by Bramble*
appeared on the scene, for the purpose of mocking. But,
whatever their purpose may have been, it was abandoned
for more active opposition when Paul presently emptied
a tumblerful of lukewarm tea in the face of Master
Brambie.

A notable battle was fought on the threshold of Green-
field senior's study, in which many were wounded on both
sides, and in the midst of which Oliver arrived on the scene,
kicking right and left, and causing a general rout

How their hero appreciated the attentions his admirers had
paid him during his absence the Guinea-pigs did not remain
or return to ascertain. They took for granted he was grate-
ful, and bashfully kept out of the way of his thanks for a
whole day.

After that their enthusiasm returned, but this time it found
a new vent. They decided that, although they would all fag
for him to the end of his days, they would not for a season,
at any rate, solicit jobs from him, but rather encourage
him by their sympathy and applause at a more respectful
distance.

So they took to cheering him in the playground, and
following him down the passages. And this not being
enough, they further relieved themselves by hooting (at a
respectful distance also) the chiefs of the senior school,
whose opinions on the question of Greenfield senior were
known not to agree with their own.

If Oliver was not grateful for all this moral support in his

AT COVENTRY. 259

trouble, he must have been a villain indeed of the deepest
dye. He never said in so many words he was grateful ; but
then the Guinea-pigs remembered that feelings are often too
deep and too many for words, and so took for granted the
thanks which their consciences told them they deserved.

Meanwhile a fresh number of the Dominican was in pro-
gress, and rapidly nearing the hour of publication.

( 36o)

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE ' DOMINICAN ' ON THE SITUATION,

THE examination at the beginning of the term had
seriously interfered with the prospects of the Domini-
can. Pembury knew well enough it was no good trying
to get anything out of the diligent section of his class-fellows
at such a time ; and he knew equally well that a number
contributed entirely by the idlers of the Fifth would neither
be creditable to the paper nor appreciated by any one
outside.

So like a prudent man he held back patiently till the
examinations were over, and then pounced down on his men
with redoubled importunity.

' Look here/ said he one day to Ricketts, e when are you
going to let me have that paper of yours ? '

' What paper do you mean ? ' demanded Ricketts.

( Why for the Dominican^ of course ; you don't suppose I
want one of your cast-off exam, papers, do you ? '

* Oh, I can't do anything for the Dominican this time/
said Ricketts.

* Yes, you can, and yes, you will/ coolly replied Anthony.
'Who says I will?' demanded Ricketts, inclined to be

angry.

' It sounds as if I do/ replied the editor. * Why of course
you'll do something for it, Rick?'

' I'd be glad enough, but really I'm not in the humour/
said Ricketts.

THE 'DOMINICAN' ON THE SITUATION. 261

' Why ever not ?' demanded Tony.

'Why, the fact is,' said Ricketts, 'I fancy the Fifth is not
exactly looking up at present, and we've nothing particular
to be proud of. If you take my advice you'll keep the
Dominican quiet for a bit/

'My dear fellow, that's the very thing we mustn't do.
Don't you see, you old duffer you, that if we shut up shop
and retire into private life, everybody will be thinking we
daren't hold up our heads ? I mean to hold up my head, for
one,' added Tony, proudly, * if there were a thousand Green-
fields in the class ; and I mean to make you hold up yours
too, old man. It'll be time enough to do the hang-dog
business when we all turn knaves ; but till we do, we've as
good a right to be known at St. Dominic's as anybody else.
So none of your humbug, Rick. We'll get out an extra good
Dominican^ and let the fellows see we're alive and kicking. 1

This speech had the required effect. It not only won
over Ricketts, but most of the other leading spirits of the
Fifth, who had been similarly holding back.

Tony was not the fellow to let an advantage go by.
Having once got his men into a becoming frame of mind,
he kept them well in hand and worked them up into some-
thing like the old enthusiasm on the subject of the
Dominican.

Every one was determined the present number should
be an out-and-out good one, and laboured and racked his
brains accordingly.

But somehow or other the fellows had never found it so
hard, first to get inspirations, and then to put them down
on paper, as they did at present. Every one thought he had
something very fine and very clever to say if he could only
find expression for it. The amount of brain-cudgelling that
went on over this Dominican was simply awful. Wraysford
gave it up in disgust. Ricketts, Bullinger, Tom Senior, and
others stumbled through their tasks, and could only turn
out lame productions at the best. Even Pembury's lucubra

262 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMIXJCS.

tions lacked a good deal of their wonted dash and spirit.
The cloud which was hanging over the Fifth seemed to have
overshadowed its genius for a while.

Still Pembury kept his men at it and gave them no peace
till their productions, such as they were, were safe in his
hands. One boy only was equal to the emergency; that I
need hardly say was Simon. He was indeed more eloquent
than ever. He offered Pembury a poem of forty verses,
entitled, ' An Elegy on the Wick of a Candle that had just
been blown out/ to begin with, and volunteered to supple-
ment this contribution with one or two smaller pieces, such
as, 'My Little Lark/ or 'An Adventure outside the Dor-
mitory Door,' or * Mind Mewsings.'

Pembury prudently accepted all, and said he would insert
what he thought fit, an assurance which delighted Simon,
who immediately sat down and wrote some more * pieces,'
in case at the last moment there might be room for them
too. But, in spite even of these valuable contributions, the
Dominican fell flat. There were a few good things in it
here and there, but it was far below its ordinary form ; and
not a few of the writers repented sorely that ever they had
put pen to paper to help produce it.

The chief amusement of the paper was contained in a
' New Code of Regulations for the Better Management of
Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles/ from the editors pen. It began
thus:

' A society has lately been started at St. Dominic's for
the preservation and management of Guinea-pigs and Tad-
poles. The following are some of the rules to be observed ;

' Any one owning a Guinea-pig or Tadpole is to be
responsible for washing it with soap and hot water at least
twice a day.

'Any one owning a Guinea-pig or Tadpole is to supply
the rest of the school with cotton wool and scent.

'No Guinea-pig or Tadpole is on any account to use hair

THE 'DOMINICAN' ON THE SITUATION. 263

*

oil or grease which has not been sanctioned by a joint com-
mittee of the Fifth, Sixth, and masters.

■r

* During the approaching winter, every one possessing a
Guinea-pig or Tadpole shall be at liberty, providing it is
regularly washed, to use it as a warming-pan for his 'own

bed.'

The small tribe of furious juniors who as usual had
crowded round the paper on the morning of publication to
get 'first read/ broke forth at this point into a howl of
exasperation.

* They won't ! I'll see they won't use me as a warming-
pan, won't you, Padger ? The brutes ! I'll bite their
horrid cold feet if they stick them against me, that's what
I'll do.'

' I'll keep a pin to stick into them/ said another.

' I'll get some leeches and put on their legs/ shouted
another.

' I'll tell you what/ said Stephen, changing the subject,
'it's cool cheek of them calling us "it," as if we were
things.'

' So they have/ exclaimed Paul ; ' oh, I say, that's too
much ; I'll let them know fm not a thing.'

'Yes, you are a thing, isn't he, Padger? A regular///
exclaimed the vindictive Bramble. ' Yah, boo, old " its,' 9
both of you.'

' Hold hard/ said some one, just as the usual hostilities
were about to commence. 'Listen to this.' And he read
the next ' regulation ' :■

' Immediate steps are to be taken to pickle a Tadpole as
a specimen for the school museum. The following is a
recipe for this. Take the ugliest, dirtiest, noisest, and
most ignorant specimen that can be found. Lift it carefully
with a pair of tongs into a bath full of vinegar. Close the
lid and let it remain there to soak for a week. At the end
of that time lift it out and scrape it well all over with a

264 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

sharp substance, to get off the first coating of grime. Soak
again for another week and scrape again, and so on till the
ninth or tenth coating is removed. After that the creature
will appear thinner than when it began. Hang it up to dry

in a clean place, and be sure no other Guinea-pigs or Tad-
poles come near it. Then put it in a clean gown, and
quickly, before it can get at the ink, put it in a large glass
bottle and fasten down the stopper. Label it, " Specimen
of a curious reptile formerly found at St. Dominic's. Now
happily extinct." '

' There you are,' said Paul, when, after much blundering
and sticking at words, this remarkable paragraph had been
read through. * There you are, Bramble, my boy ; what do
you think of that?' Bramble had no difficulty in intimating
what he thought of it in pretty strong language, and for
some little time the further reading of the Dominican was
suspended.

When, however, the row was over, the group had been
joined by several of the elder boys, who appeared to
appreciate Simon's poem, * An Adventure outside the
Dormitory Door.' It was called an 'epick,' and began
thus. The reader must be contented with quite a short
extract : —

* Outside the Dormitory door
I walked me slow upon the floor
And just outside the Doctor's study
A youth I met all in a hurry ;
His name perhaps I had better not tell
Eut like a snail retire into my shell.'

This last simile had evidently particularly delighted the
poet. So much so, that he brought it in at the close of
every succeeding verse. The ' epick ' went on, of course,
to unravel the threads of the ' adventure/ and to intimate
pretty plainly who ' the youth ' referred to was. To any one
not interested in the poet or his epic the production was a

THE 'DOMINICAN' ON THE SITUATION 265

dull one, and the moral at the end was not quite clear even
to the most intellectual.

* Now I must say farewell ; yet stay, methinks
How many many youths do sit on brinks.
Oh joy to feel the soft breeze sigh
And in the shady grove to wipe the eye,
It makes me feel a man I know full well,
But like a snail I'll now retire within my sheik*

These were the only articles in the Dominican that
afforded any amusement. The remainder of the paper,
made up of the usual articles sneering at the Sixth and
crowing over the school generally, were very tame. The
result of the Nightingale Scholarship was announced as
follows : — -

'The examination for the Nightingale Scholarship was
held on the 1st October. The scholarship was lost by
Loman of the Sixth by 70 marks to 97. A good per-
formance on the whole.'

This manner of announcing the unfortunate result was
ingenious, and did Tony credit. For, whether his object
was to annoy the Sixth or to shield the Fifth, he succeeded
amply in both. There were some, however, in the Fifth
who were by no means content that Greenfield should be
let off so easily in the Dominican, and these read with
interest the following ' Notes from Coventry,' contributed
by Bullinger. Anthony had accepted and inserted them
against his better judgment.

* If the fellow is at Coventry, why not let him stay there ? '
he said to Bullinger. ' The best thing we can possibly do
is to let him alone.'

' I don't see it,' said Bullinger. ' Everybody will think
we are trying to shield him if we keep so quiet. Anyhow,
here's my paper. You can put it in or not, which you like.
I'm not going to write anything else.'

266 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

Pembury took the paper and put it in. The reader may
like to hear a few of the ' Notes from Coventry.'

1 The quaint old city of Coventry has lately been visited
by a " gentleman " from St. Dominic's, who appears so
charmed with all he has seen and heard that it is expected
he will remain there for some considerable time.

' The object of his visit is of a private nature, possibly for
the purpose of scientific research, for which absolute quiet
is necessary. His experiments are chiefly directed to the
making or taking of examination papers, and on his return
we may look for valuable discoveries. Meanwhile he sees
very little company. The society in which he most delights
is that of certain Guinea-pigs, between whom and himself a
special bond of sympathy appears to exist. It is a touching
sight to see him taking his daily walks in company with
these singular animals ; who, be it said, seem to be the only
creatures able to appreciate his character. Curiously
enough, since he left us, St. Dominic's has not collapsed ;
indeed, it is a singular fact that now he is away it is
no longer considered necessary for every fellow to lock
his study door when he goes out, and keep the key.' And
so on.

Miserable stuff indeed, as Stephen thought, but quite
stinging enough to wound him over and over again as he saw
the sneers and heard the laughs with which the reading of
the extract was greeted. Everybody evidently was against his
brother, and, with a deep disgust and fury at his heart, he left
them to laugh by themselves and returned to Oliver's study.

He found his brother in what were now his usual cheerful
spirits. For after the first week or so of his being sent to
Coventry, Oliver, in his own study at least, kept up a
cheerful appearance.

' Hullo, Stee, 1 said he as the young brother entered.
' You're just in time. Here's a letter from mother.'

* Is there ? How jolly ! Read it out, NolL'

4*1*^

■. -iu-.-.v.

_.'jru- _j-

" _^E_

muiu

^a£

268 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

So Oliver read it out. It was an ordinary, kind, motherly
epistle, such as thousands of schoolboys get every week of
the school year. All about home, and what is going on,
how the dogs are, where sister Mary has been to, how the
boiler burst last week, which apple-tree bore most, and so
on ; every scrap of news that could be scraped up from the
four winds of heaven was in that letter.

And to the two brothers, far away, and lonely even among
their schoolfellows, it came like a breath of fresh air that
morning.

4 1 have been so proud/ went on Mrs. Greenfield towards
the end of the letter, ' ever since I heard of dear Oliver's
success in winning the scholarship. Not so much for the
value of it, though that is pretty considerable, but because I
am so sure he deserves it/

' Hear, hear 1 ' put in Stephen.

'Poor Mr. Wraysford! I hope he is not very much
disappointed. How nice it would have been if there had
been two scholarships, and each could have had one ! I
suppose the Fifth is making quite a hero of Oliver. I know
one foolish old woman who would like to be with her boys
this moment to share their triumph/

Oliver laughed bitterly.

* That would be a treat for her ! '

Stephen, very red in the face, was too furious for words,
so Oliver went on :

' And if, instead of triumph, they should ever be in trouble
or sorrow, still more would I love to be with them, to share
it. But most of all do I trust and pray they may both make
a constant friend of the Saviour, who wants us all to cast our
burdens on Him, and follow the example He has left us in
all things/

There was a silence for some moments after this home
message fell on the brothers' ears. The hearts of both
were full — too full for words — but I think, had the widow-
mother far away been able to divine the secret thoughts of

THE 'DOMINICAN' ON THE SITUATION 269

her boys, hope would have mingled with all her pity and
all her solicitude on their account.

But the old trouble, for the present at any rate, was
destined to swamp all other emotions.

Oliver continued reading : ' Christmas will not be so very
long now in coming. We must have a real snug, old-fashioned
time of it here. Uncle Henry has promised to come, and
your cousins. It would be nice if you could persuade Mr.
Wraysford to come here then. I am so anxious to see him
again. Tell him from me I reckon on him to be one of our
party if he can possibly manage it.'

( Baa ! ' exclaimed Stephen. ' The beast ! I'll let her
know what sort of blackguard the fellow is ! '

' Easy all, young 'un/ said Oliver.

' I sha'n't easy all, Noll ! ' exclaimed the boy ; ' he is a
blackguard, you know he is, and I hate him.'

' I think he's a fool just now/ said Oliver, * but — well, he

fished you out of the Thames, Stee ; you oughtn't to call
him a blackguard.'

' I wish he'd left me in the Thames/ said Stephen, nearly
breaking down. ' I've been miserable enough this term for
half a dozen.'

Oliver looked hard and long at his young brother. It
never seemed to have occurred to him before how deeply
the boy took the trouble of his elder brother to heart.

Now if Oliver had really been innocent, the natural thing
would have been — wouldn't it ? — for him to be quite cut up at
this exhibition of feeling, and fall on his brother's neck and
protest once more that he never did or would or could do
such a thing as that he was suspected of. But instead of
this, the hardened villain turned quite cross when he saw his
brother at the point of tears, and exclaimed, hurriedly,

' Don't make a young fool of yourself, Stee, whatever you
do. It won't do a bit of good.'

* But, Noll, old man/ pleaded the boy, ' why ever don't
you — ' \

270 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM I NIC S.

( Because I don't choose, and it would be no use if I did,
retorted the other.

' But the fellows all suspect you ! '

i I can't help that, if they do. Come now, Stee, we've
had enough of this. It'll all come right some day, you
see, and meanwhile what do you say to a turn in the gym-
nasium ? '

' Well, but/ persisted Stephen, not half satisfied, ' you
surely aren't going to give mother's message to Wraysford ?
/don't want him home at Christmas.'

w

' No one asked you if you did, you young duffer. But I
don't think, all the same, I shall give it just yet.'

They were walking down the big passage arm-in-arm in
the direction of the gymnasium, and as Oliver spoke these
last words the subject of their conversation appeared
advancing towards them.

Who could have believed that those three friends who
only a month or two ago were quoted all over St. Dominic's
as inseparables could ever meet and pass one another as
these three met and passed one another now ?

Wraysford coloured as he caught sight of his old ally, and
looked another way. Oliver, more composed, kept his eyes
fixed straight ahead, and appeared to be completely un-
conscious of the presence of any one but Stephen, who hung
on to his arm, snorting and fuming and inwardly raging like
a young tiger held in by the chain from his prey.

An odd meeting indeed, and a miserable one ; yet to
none of the three so miserable as to the injured Wraysford,
who ever since the day of the Nightingale examination had
not known a happy hour at St Dominic's.

( 27i ;

o

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MR. CRIPPS AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

LIVER GREENFIELD'S banishment from civilized
society, however much it may have gratified the
virtuous young gentlemen of the Fifth, was regarded by a
small section of fellows in the Sixth with unmitigated
disgust. These fellows were the leading spirits of the St.
Dominic Football Club, which was just about to open pro-
ceedings for the season. To them the loss of the best half-
back in the school was a desperate calamity.

They raged and raved over the matter with all the fury of
disappointed enthusiasts. They didn't care a bit, it almost
seemed, whether the fellow was a cheat or not. All they
knew was, he was the quickest half-back and the safest drop-
kick the school had, and here was the match with Landfield
coming on, and, lo and behold ! their man was in Coventry,
forsooth, and not to be had out for love or money. Thus
baulked, the Sixth Form athletes could afford to wax very
virtuous and philanthropic on the subject of Coventry
generally.

' The Doctor ought to put a stop to it,' said Stansfield,
who this year occupied the proud position of captain of the
fifteen.

' Why, we've not got a single man worth twopence behind
the scrimmage ! '

This was gratifying for Loman, one of the council of war,
who usually pbyed quarter or half-back in the matches.

272 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINJCS.

' I don't see why we shouldn't get him to play if he is at
Coventry/ said Callonby ; ( we didn't send him there.'

* All very well/ said the captain ; ' if we got him we should
lose Ricketts, and Bullinger, and Tom Senior, and Braddy,
which would come to about the same thing.'

' And I shouldn't play either,' said Loman, ' if Greenfield
played.'

Stansfield shrugged his shoulders and looked vicious.

'All child's play!' said he. 'They think it's very grand
and a fine spectacle and all that. But they ought to have
more consideration for the credit of the school.'

' It's not much to the credit of the school,' said Loman,
'to have a fellow like him in the fifteen.'

' It's less credit to have a pack of louts who tumble head
over heels every time they try to pick up a ball, and funk a
charge twice out of every thrice ! ' retorted Stansfield, who
was one of the peppery order. 'Greenfield's worth any

half-dozen of you, I tell you.'

' Better get him to play Landfield by himself,' growled
Loman, who generally got the worst of it in discussions

like this.

' It's a plaguey nuisance, that's what it is,' said Stansfield ;
' we are sure to get licked. Who's to play half-back instead
of him, I'd like to know ? '

' Forrester, in the Fourth, plays a very good half-
back,' said Callonby; 'he's tremendously quick on his
feet.'

' Yes, but he can't kick. I've a good mind to put Wrays-
ford in the place. And yet he's such a rattling steady
" back " I don't like to move him.'

'Wraysford told me yesterday,' said Wren, 'he wasn't

going to play.'

' What ! ' exclaimed Stansfield, starting up as if he had
been shot. ' Wraysford not going to play ! '

' So he said,' replied Wren.

' Oh, this is a drop too much !. Why ever not ? '

MR. CRTPPS AT ST. DOMINIC S. 273

4 1 don't know. He's been awfully down in the mouth
lately ; whether it is about the Nightingale, or — ■'

The captain gave a howl of rage.

' I wish that miserable brute of a Nightingale had been
scragged, that I do ! Everything's stopped for the Nightin-
gale ! Who cares a button about the thing, I'd like to
know ? Wraysford can get dozens more of them after the
football season's over. Why, the Doctor gave out another
scholarship to be gone in for directly after Christmas, only
to-day. Can't he go in for that ? '

'So he will, I expect,' said Wren; ' but I don't fancy
he'll play, all the same, on Saturday.'

Stansfield groaned. 'There go my two best men/ he
said ; ' we may as well shut up shop and go in for
croquet.'

A powerful deputation waited on Wraysford that same
evening to try to prevail upon him to play in the fifteen.
They had hard work to do it. He said he was out of
form, and didn't feel in the humour, and was certain they
could get on well enough without him.

t Oh, no, we can't/ said Stansfield. ' I say, Wraysford/ he
added, bluntly, ' I expect it's this Nightingale affair's at the
bottom of all this nonsense. Can't you possibly patch it up,
at any rate till after Saturday ? I'd give my head to get you
and Greenfield in the team.'

' Do play, Wraysford/ put in Callonby. ( Don't let the
school be beaten just because you've got a row on with
another fellow. 7

' It's not that at all/ said Wraysford, feeling and looking
very uncomfortable. ' It's nothing to do with that. It's
just that I'm not in the humour. I'd really rather not.'

* Oh, look here/ cried Stansfield ; ' that won't wash,
Come to oblige me, there's a good fellow.'

In the end Wraysford gave in, and the captain went off
half consoled to complete his preparations, and inveigh in
his odd moments against all Nightingales and Coventrys,

274 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

and examinations, and all such enemies and stumbling-
blocks to the glorious old English sport of football.

Loman looked forward to the coming match with quite
good spirits. Indeed, it was a long time since he had felt
or appeared so light-hearted.

That very day he had received a most unexpected present
in the shape of a five-pound note from an aunt, which sum
he had promptly and virtuously put into an envelope and
sent down to Mr. Cripps in further liquidation of his tf little
bill.' Was ever such luck? And next week the usual re-

r

mittance from home would be due ; there would be another
three or four pounds paid off. Loman felt quite touched at
the thought of his own honesty and solvency. If only every-
body in the world paid their debts as he did, what a happy
state of things it would be for the country !

So, as I said, Loman looked forward to the football match
in quite good spirits, just as a man who has been working
hard and anxiously for eleven long months looks forward to
his well-earned summer holiday. Things were looking up
with him, and no mistake.

And then, just like his luck, the Doctor had that same day
made the announcement, already referred to, of another
scholarship to be competed for directly after Christmas. It
was for Sixth form boys under seventeen, and he meant to
go in for it ! True, this scholarship was only for twenty
pounds for a single year, but that was something. As far
as he could see, Wraysford, who would get his move up
at Christmas, would be the only man in against him, if
he did go in, and he fancied he could beat Wraysford.
For in the Nightingale exam, he had not really tried his
best, but this time he would and astonish everybody.
Greenfield would scarcely go in for this exam., even if
he got his move up ; it was safe to conclude his recent
exploit would suffice him in the way of exams, for some
time to come.

And then, what could be more opportune than its coming

MR. CRIPPS AT ST. DOMINIC S. 275

off just after Christmas, at the precise time when Cripps
would be looking for a final settlement of his account,, or
whatever little of it remained still to pay ! Oh, dear ! oh,
dear ! What a thing it is to be straight and honest ! Every-
thing prospers with a man when he goes in for being honest !
Why, Loman was positively being bathed in luck at the
present time !

The Saturday came at last Stansfield had drilled his men
as well as he could during the interval, and devoutly
hoped that he had got a respectable team to cope with the
Landfield fellows. If he could only have been sure of his
half-back he would have been quite happy ; and never
a practice passed without his growling louder than ever
at the disgraceful custom of sending useful behind-scrim-
mage men to Coventry. At the last moment he de-
cided to give the responsible post to Loman, rather than
move forward Wraysford from his position at ' back ' ; and
Loman's usual place at quarter-back was filled up by young
Forrester of the Fourth, greatly to that young gentleman's
trepidation and to the exultation of the Fourth Senior as a
body, who felt terrifically puffed up to have one of their men
actually in the first fifteen.

Some of my readers may perhaps know from actual ex-
perience what are the numerous and serious anxieties
which always beset the captain of the football fifteen.
If the fellow is worth his salt he knows to a nicety
where he is strong and where he is weak ; he knows, if the
wind blows one way, which is the best quarter-back to put
on the left and which on the right. He knows which of his
' bulldogs ' he can safely put into the middle of the scrim-
mage, and which are most useful in the second tier. He
knows when to call ' Kick ! ' to a man and when to call
' Run ! ' and no man knows better when to throw the ball
far out from touch, or when to nurse it along close to the
line. It is all very well for outsiders to talk of football ever-
lastingly as a game. My dear, good people, football is a

276 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

science if ever there was a science ; the more you know of
it the more you will find that out.

This piece of lecturing is thrown in here for the purpose
of observing that Stansfield was a model football captain.
However worried and worrying and crabby he was in his
ordinary clothes, in his football togs and on the field of
battle he was the coolest, quickest, readiest, and cunningest
general you could desire. He said no more than he could
help, and never scolded his men while play was going on,
and, best of all, worked like a horse himself in the thick of
the fight, and looked to every one else to do the same.

Yet on this Saturday all the captain's prowess and
generalship could not win the match for St. Dominic's
against Landfield.

The match began evenly, and for the first half of the time
the game was one long succession of scrimmages in the
middle of the ground, from which the ball hardly ever
escaped, and when it did, escaped only to be driven back
next moment into the 'mush.'

( It'll do at this rate ! ' thinks Stansfield to himself.
' As long as they keep it among the forwards we sha'n't
hurt. 7

Alas ! one might almost have declared some tell-tale
evil spirit had heard the boast and carried it to the ear of
the enemy, for next moment i half-time was called, the
sides changed over, and with them the Landfielders com-
pletely reversed their tactics.

The game was no longer locked up in a scrimmage in the
middle of the ground. It became looser all along the line ;
the ball began to slip through the struggling feet into the
hands of those behind, who sent it shooting over the heads
of the forwards into more open ground. The quarter-backs
and half-backs on either side ran and got round the scrim-
mages ; and when at last they were collared, took to ending
up with an expiring drop-kick, which sent the ball far in the
direction of the coveted goals.

MR. CRIPPS AT ST. DOMINIC S. 277

Nothing could have happened worse for St. Dominic's, for
the strain fell upon them just at their weakest point. Stans-
field groaned as he saw chance after chance missed behind
his scrimmages. Young Forrester played pluckily and hard
at quarter-back, and shirked nothing ; but he could not
kick, and his short runs were consequently of little use.
Callonby, of course, did good work, but Lorn an, the half-
back, was wofully unsteady.

* What a jackass I was to put the fellow there I ' said
Stansfield to himself.

And yet Loman, as a rule, was a good player, with plenty
of dash and not a little courage. It was odd that to-day he
should be showing such specially bad form.

There goes the ball again, clean over the forwards' heads,
straight for him ! He is going to catch it and run 1 No \
he is not ! He is going to take a flying kick ! No, he is
not ; he is going to make his mark ! No, he is not ; he is
going to dribble it through ! Now if there is one thing fatal
to football it is indecision. If you wobble about, so to
speak, between half a dozen opinions, you may just as well
sit down on the ground where you are and let the ball go to
Jericho. Loman gets flurried completely, and ends by
giving the ball a miserable side-kick into touch — to the
extreme horror of everybody and the unmitigated disgust of
the peppery Stansfield.

Yet had the captain and his men known the cause of all
this — had they been aware that that flash, half-tipsy cad of a
fellow who, with half a dozen of his ' pals/ was watching the
match with a critical air, there at the ropes was the landlord
of the Cockchafer himself, the holder of Loman's 'little bill'
for ^30, they would perhaps have understood and forgiven
their comrade's clumsiness. But they did not.

Whatever had brought Cripps there? A thousand possi-
bilities flashed through Loman's mind as he caught sight of
his unwelcome acquaintance in the middle of the match.
Was he come to make a row about his money before all the

278 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

school? or had anything fresh turned up, or what? And
why on earth did he bring those other cads with him, all of
whom Loman recognised as pot-house celebrities of his own
acquaintance ? No wonder if the boy lost his head and
became flurried !

He felt miserable every time the ball flew over to Cripps's
side of the ground. There was a possibility the landlord
of the Cockchafer had only come up out of curiosity, and, if
so, might not have recognised his young friend among the
players. But this delusion was soon dispelled.

The ball went again into touch— this time close to the
spot occupied by the unwelcome group, and was about to
be thrown out.

Stansfield signalled to Loman. * Go up nearer the line :
close up/

Loman obeyed, and as he did so there fell on his ears, in
familiar tones, the noisy greeting,

' What cheer, Nightingale ? What cheer, my hearty ?
Stick to your man ; eh, let him have it, Mr. Loman ! Two
to one in half-sovs. on Mr. Loman.'

A laugh greeted this encouraging appeal, in the midst of
which Loman, knowing full well every one had heard every
word, became completely disconcerted, and let the ball go
through his fingers as if it had been quicksilver.

This was too much for Stansfield's patience.

' Go up forward, for goodness' sake,' he exclaimed, ' if you
must play the fool I I'll go half-back myself.'

Loman obeyed like a lamb, only too glad to lose himself
in the scrimmages and escape observation.

The match went on — worse and worse for St. Dominic's.
Despite Stansfield's gallant efforts at - half-back (where he
had never played before), despite Wraysford's steady
play in goal, the ball worked up nearer and nearer the
Dominican lines.

The Landfield men were quick enough to see the weak
point of their enemies, and make use of the discovery.

MR. CRIPPS AT ST. DOMINIC S. 279

They played fast and loose, giving the ball not a moment's
peace, and above all avoiding scrimmages. The St. Domi-
nic's forwards were thus made practically useless, and the
brunt of the encounter fell on the four or five players behind,
and they were not equal to it.

The calamity comes at last. One of the Landfield men
gets hold of the ball, and runs down hard along the touch-
line. Forrester is the quarter-back that side, and gallant as
the Fourth Form boy is, his big opponent runs over him as
a mastiff runs over a terrier.

Stansfield, anticipating this, is ready himself at half-back,
and it will go hard with him indeed if he does not collar his
man. Alas ! just as the Landfielder comes to close quarters,
and the St. Dominic's captain grips him round the waist,
the ball flies neatly back into the hands of another of the
enemy, who, amid the shouts of his own men and the crowd,
makes off with it like fury, with a clear field before him, and

only Wraysford between him and the Dominican goal.

' Look out behind there ! '

No need of such a caution to a ' l?ack J like Wraysford.
He is looking out, and has been looking out ever since the
match began. a But if he had the eyes of an Argus, and the
legs of an Atlas, he could not prevent that goal. For the
Landfield man has no notion of coming to close quarters ;
he is their crack drop-kick, and would be an ass indeed if
he did not employ his talent with such a chance as this.
He only runs a short way. Then he slackens pace.
Wraysford rushes forward in front, the pursuing host rush
on behind, but every one sees how it will be. The fellow
takes a deliberate drop-kick at the goal, and up flies the
ball as true as a rocket, clean over the posts, as certain a goal
as St. Dominic's ever lost ! It was no use crying over
spilt milk, and for the rest of the game Stansfield relaxed no
efforts to stay the tide of defeat. And he succeeded too,
for though the ball remained dangerously near the school
goal, and once or twice slipped behind, the enemy were

280 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

unable to make any addition to their score before ' Time '
was called.

When the match was over, Loman tried his best to slip
away unobserved by his respectable town acquaintances ;
but they were far too polite to allow him.

' Well,' cried Mr. Cripps, coolly joining the boy as he
walked with the other players back to the school — ' well,
you do do it, you do. Bless me ! I call that proper
sport, I do. What do you put on the game, bobs
or sovs., eh? Never mind, I and my pals we wanted a
dander, so we thought we'd look you up, eh ? You know
Tommy Granger here ? I heard him saying as we came
along he wondered what you'd stand to drink after it all/

All Loman could do was to stand still as soon as this
talk began, and trust his schoolfellows would walk on, and
so miss all Mr. Cripps's disgusting familiarities.

'I say,' whispered he, in an agitated voice, * for good-
ness 1 sake go away, Cripps ! I shall get into an awful row
if you don't/

' Oh, all serene, my young bantam/ replied Cripps, aloud,
and still in the hearing of not a few of the boys. ' I'll go
if you want it so particular as all that. / can tear myself
away. Only mind you come and give us a look up soon,
young gentleman, for I and my pals ain't seen you for a
good while now, and was afraid something was up. Ta \
ta ! Good-day, young gentlemen all. By-bye, my young
Nightingales/

Loman' s feelings can be more easily imagined than
expressed when Cripps, saying these words, held out his
hand familiarly to be shaken. The boy did shake it, as
one would shake hands with a wolf, and then, utterly
ashamed and disgraced, he made his way among his
wondering schoolfellows up to the school.

Was this his luck, after all ? A monitor known to be the
companion and familiar friend of the disreputable cad at
the Cockchafer ! The boy who, if not liked, had yet passed

MR. CRIPPS AT ST. DOMINIC S. 281

among most of his schoolfellows as a steady, well-conducted
fellow, now suddenly shown up before the whole school
like this !

Loman went his way to his study, feeling that the
mask was pretty nearly off his face at last, and that St.
Dominic's knew him almost as he really was. Yet did
they know all ?

As Loman passed Greenfield's study he stopped and
peeped in at the door. The owner was sitting in his arm-
chair, with his feet upon the mantelpiece, laughing over a
volume of Pickwick till the tears came. And yet the
crime Oliver was suspected of was theft and lying ? Was
it not strange — must it not have struck Loman as strange,
in all his misery, that any one under such a cloud as
Greenfield could think of laughing, while he, under a cloud
surely no greater, felt the most miserable boy alive !

( 282 )

CHAPTER XXIX.

A QUEER PRIZE DAY.

THE long Christmas term crawled slowly on unsatis-
factorily to everybody. It was unsatisfactory to
Loman, who, after the football match, discovered that what
little popularity or influence he ever had was finally gone.
It was unsatisfactory to Wraysford, who, not knowing
whether to be ashamed of himself or wroth with his old
friend, settled down to be miserable for the rest of the
term. It was unsatisfactory to the Fifth, who felt the luck
was against them, and that the cloud overhead seemed to
have stuck there for good. It was unsatisfactory to Stephen,
who raged and fretted twenty times a day on his brother's
behalf, and got no nearer putting him right than when he
began. And undoubtedly it must have been unsatisfactory
to Oliver, a banished man* forgetting almost the use of
tongue and ears, and, except his brother, not being able to
reckon on a single friend at St. Dominic's outside the
glorious community of the Guinea-pigs.

In fact, the only section in the school to whom the term
was satisfactory, was these last-named young gentlemen and
their sworn foes, the Tadpoles.

Now, at last, they had a clear issue before them — Green-
field senior, was he a hero or was he a blackguard ? There
was no mistaking sides there. There was no unpleasant
possibility of having to make common cause and proclaim
an armistice. No ! on the question of Greenfield senior,

A QUEER PRIZE DAY. 283

Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles had something to fight about
from morning till night, and therefore they, at any rate, were
happy !

' Jellicott,' said Dr. Senior one day, as the masters met
for five minutes' talk in the head master's study, ' Greenfield
in the Fifth is not well, I'm afraid. I never see him out in
the playground.'

'Really?' said Mr. Jellicott. 'I'm so rarely out there
that I haven't noticed. I believe, however, he is quite
well.'

* I hope he is not overworking/ said the Doctor. ' He
has done so very well this term that it would be a pity if he
spoiled his chance by knocking himself up.'

' Greenfield senior,' put in Mr. Rastle, ' appears to be
unpopular just at present ; at least, so I gather from what I
have heard. I don't know what crime he has committed,
but the tribunal of his class have been very severe on him,

I fancy.'

The Doctor laughed.

' Boys will be boys ! Well, it's a relief if that's the solu-
tion of the mystery, for I was afraid he was ill. We have
no right to interfere with these boyish freaks, as long as
they are not mischievous. But you might keep your eye
on the little comedy, Jellicott. It would be a pity for it to
go too far.'

Mr. Jellicott did keep his eye on the little comedy, and
came to the conclusion that, whatever Greenfield had
done, he was being pretty severely paid out. He reported
as much to the Doctor, who, however, still deprecated
interference.

( We might only make things worse,' said he, ' by med-
dling. Things like this always right themselves far better
than an outsider can right them. Besides, as Greenfield
will get his move up after Christmas, he will be less depend-
ent on the good graces of his present class-fellows.'

And so the matter ended for the present, as far as the

284 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

masters were concerned. The reader will, perhaps, feel
very indignant, and declare the Doctor was neglecting his
duty in treating so serious a matter so lightly. He ought
(some one says) to have investigated the whole affair from
beginning to end, and made sure, what was the reason of
the Fifth's displeasure and of Oliver's disgrace. In fact,
when one comes to think of it, it is a marvel how the
Doctor had not long ago guessed who took the lost ex-
amination paper, and treated the criminal accordingly.

Christmas prize day was always a great event at St.
Dominic's. For, as all the examinations had been held at
the beginning of the term, all the rewards were naturally
distributed at the end of it.

Fellows who were leaving made on these occasions their
last appearance before their old companions. Fellows who
had earned their removes figured now for the last time as
members of their old classes ; and fellows who had distin-
guished themselves during the last year generally were
patted on the back by the masters and cheered by their
schoolfellows, and made much of by their sisters, and
cousins, and aunts.

For ladies turned up at the Christmas prize day at St.
Dominic's ; ladies, and big brothers, and old boys, and the
school governors, with the noble Earl at their head to give
away the prizes. It was a great occasion. The school was
decorated with flags and evergreens ; Sunday togs were the
order of the day ; the Doctor wore his scarlet hood, and the
masters their best gowns. The lecture-theatre was quite
gay with red-baize carpet and unwonted cushions, and the
pyramid of gorgeously-bound books awaiting the hour of
distribution on the centre table.

Prize day, too, was the object of all sorts of preparations
long before the eventful date came round. Ten days at
least before it arrived the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles were
wont secretly to buy pumice-stone for their finger ends, and
used one by one to disappear casually into Maltby and come

A QUEER PRIZE DAY. 285

back with their hair cut. Then the Fourth Senior, who
were for ever getting up testimonials to their master (they
gave him a testimonial on an average twice every term),
were very busy collecting contributions and discussing
whether Mr. Brand would prefer an ormolu mustard-pot, or
a steel watch-chain, or an antimacassar. The musical set
at the school, too, were busy rehearsing part songs for the
evening's festivities, and the dramatic set were terribly im-
mersed for a fortnight beforehand in the preparations for a
grand charade.

Altogether the end of the Christmas term at St. Dominic's
was a busy time, and the present year was certainly no ex-
ception to the rule. Greatly to the relief of Stephen and
Oliver, Mrs. Greenfield found herself unable at the last mo-
ment to come down and take part in the proceedings of the
eventful day. As long as the boys had expected her to
come they had looked forward to prize day with something
like horror, but now that that danger was passed, Oliver
recovered his old unconcern, and Stephen relapsed once
more into his attitude of terror-in-chief to his big brother,
snapping and snarling at any one who dared so much as to
mention the name of Greenfield senior in his hearing.

Well, the day came at last, fully as grand an occasion as
any "one expected. The noble Earl turned up half an hour
early, and spent the interval in patting the greasy heads of
all the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles he came across. The
mothers and sisters swarmed up and down the staircases
and in and out the studies, escorted proudly by their dear
Johnnys and precious Bobs. The red robes of the Doctor
flashed down the corridor, and in the lecture-theatre there
was such a rustling of silk gowns and waving of feather
bonnets, and gleaming of white collars and sparkling patent-
leather boots, as must have fairly astonished that sombre
place. Every one was there — every fellow nearly had got a
mother or somebody to show off to. Even Bramble turned
up with a magnificent grandmother, greatly to the envy of

286 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S,

friend and foe, and would have been the proudest Tadpole
alive if the dear good old lady had not insisted on taking
her descendant's hand instead of his arm, and trotting him
about instead of letting him trot her. Oliver and Stephen
alone had no kith and kin to see them on this proud day.

In due time the lecture- theatre filled up, crowded from
floor to ceiling. The noble Earl walked in amid terrific
cheers and took his seat. The Doctor walked in after him,
amid cheers almost as terrific, and after him the ordinary
procession of governors, masters, and examiners ; and when
they were all seated prize day had begun.

For up steps Mr. Raleigh, the captain of the school, on to
the raised dais, whence, after bowing profoundly to the noble
Earl and everybody, he delivers a neat speech in honour of
a good old soul who lived three or four centuries ago, and
left behind him the parcel of ground on which St. Dominic's
now stands, and a hatful of money besides, to found the
school. Raleigh having said his say (and how proud the
smallest boys are of the captain's whiskers as they listen !),
up steps Wren and commences a similar harangue in Greek.
The small boys, of course, cheer this even more than the
English. Then up gets Mr. Winter and spins off a Latin
speech, but this does not go down so well, for the juniors
know a little Latin, and so are a good deal more critical over
that than over the Greek. The French and German speeches
however, restore them to good humour, and then the speeches
are done.

Then comes the noble Earl. He is an old, old man, and
his voice is weak and wavering, and scarcely any one hears
a word he says. Yet how they cheer him, those youngsters !
They watch the back of his head, and when it bobs then
they know the end of a sentence has come, and they let
out accordingly.

'My dearie,' says Bramble's grandmother, 'don't stamp
so. The poor old gentleman can't hear his own voice.'

' That's no matter,' says ' my dearie,' pounding away with

A QUEER PRIZE DAY. 287

his feet. ' If we keep it up the old boy may give us an
extra week's holiday.'

The old lady subsided at this, in a resigned way; and
certainly when the good old nobleman did reach his final
bob, his merry, jovial face looked particularly promising for
the extra week

And now the Doctor advances to the table with the prize
list in his hand. The prize boys are marshalled in the
background, in the order in which their names appear, and
Bramble tries hard to look as if nothing but his duty to his
grandmother would have kept him from forming one of that
favoured band himself.

The prize list is arranged backwards way ; that is, the
small boys come on first and the great events last.

It is a treat to see the little mites of the First, Second,
and Third Junior trot up to get their prizes. They look so
pleased, and they blush so, and look so wistfully up to
where their relatives are sitting, that it is quite pathetic, and
the good old Earl has a vigorous wipe of his spectacles before
he calls up the Fourth Junior.

' General proficiency,' reads the Doctor from his list —
1 Watson.' No one knows Watson; he is quite an obscure
member of the glorious community, and so he trots in
and out again without much excitement. In fact, all the
best prizes of the Form go without much applause, but
when the Doctor summons * Paul ' to advance and receive
' the second arithmetic prize/ there rises a shout enough to
bring down the house.

' Bravo, Guinea-pigs ! ' shouts one small voice up some-
where near the ceiling, whereat there is a mighty laugh and
cheer, and Bramble turns crimson in the face, and tells his

grandmother gloomily, ' That fellow Paul is a beast !'

But the youth's face brightens when the next name is

called : ' Third arithmetic — Padger.'

Then doth Bramble the Tadpole stand in his seat and

cheer till he is hoarse, and till his grandmother pulleth him

288 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

by the tail of his jacket. The hero Padger, perspiring very
much in the face, but otherwise composed, takes the
homage of his chief and the third arithmetic prize with
becoming humility, and clears off the arena as fast as he
conveniently can.

Surely the Fourth Junior have come to an end now !
No ! there is one more prize.

' First Latin — Greenfield junior.'

This time there was a louder cheer than ever, for Stephen
is a popular boy outside his own class. Oliver joins in the
cheer, and Pembury and Wraysford and one or two others,
and of course the Guinea-pigs, go in a lump for him. It is
quite a minute before the noble Earl can get hold of the
words of presentation ; and when at last Stephen is dis-
patched, the Doctor turns round and says, ' If you boys will
make a little less noise I dare say we shall get through the
list quite as satisfactorily, and possibly a little more quickly.*

* Hear, hear"! ' says one of the governors, and nod, nod
goes the noble Earl's head.

The consequence of this is that the prizes to the First,
Second, Third, and Fourth Senior are presented amid some-
thing very much like silence, which, however, grows less and
less solemn as the proceedings go on. The last Fourth
Senior boy to be called is the hero Forrester, who is now
fully constituted a member of the first football fifteen. He
gets a vehement cheer at all costs, mingled with shouts of
' Well kicked, sir I ' ' Hack it through ! ' and the like, which
clearly show that the sympathy of St. Dominic's is quite as
much with the exploits accomplished by the young hero's
feet as by those of his head.

Now for the Fifth ! If the Doctor expects the company
is to remain solemn during the next quarter of an hour
he knows nothing at all about the school over which he
presides.

' Fifth Form — (cheers) — French — (cheers) — Pembury —
terrific applause, during which Tony walks in demurely on

A QUEER PRIZE DAY. 289

his crutches and receives his well-merited award). English
history — (applause) — Pembury. '

Once more enter Tony on his crutches to receive another
prize.

( Bravo, Tony ! ' * Hurrah for the Dominican ! ' ( Well
done. Editor ! ' rise from various parts of the hall, in the
midst of which Pembury retires positively for the last time.

* First Greek prize — Wraysford.'

Wraysford advances gravely and slowly. The instant he
appears there arises a cheer — the mightiest of any yet.
Everybody cheers, and when they have done cheering they
stamp, and when they have done stamping they clap.
Wraysford stands disconcerted and flushed with the demon-
stration, at a loss whether to smile or frown. He knows
the meaning of that cheer as well as anybody, and it grates
on his ear unpleasantly as he listens. What ages it seems
before it is done, and the noble Earl at last holds out the
book and says, ' I have great pleasure, Wraysford, in hand-
ing you this prize. Your schoolfellows are all proud of you ;
I feel sure you deserve their good opinion. I wish you
success, Wraysford ; ' and so saying, the good old gentle-
man bobs affably, and Wraysford, amid another tempest of
applause, bows too, and takes off his prize.

' The next name,' says the Doctor, referring to his list,
' is that of the winner of the Nightingale Scholarship — (sen-
sation) — and I may tell your lordship that the boy is, in the
opinion of his examiners and myself, one of the most
promising boys for his age that St. Dominic's has known.
The examiners report that his answers to the questions on
the paper deserve the greatest credit. I will say only this
before his face : Nightingale Scholarship — Greenfield

senior.'

A solemn silence marks the close of the Doctor's speech,
in the midst of which Oliver, with pale face, but otherwise
unmoved, advances to where the noble Earl stands. A few
of the strangers greet his appearance with a clapping of

29o THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

hands, but the sound falls strangely on the silence all
round.

The noble Earl, who is evidently ready with a neat little
speech which shall sum the applause that never comes, is
disconcerted at this unwonted stillness. You might hear a
pin fall as the old gentleman, in dumb show, places the
certificate into the boy's hand and tries to get at the words
which the silence has scared away.

Oliver waits no longer than he can help. With a bow,
he takes the parchment and turns to quit the scene.

It is at this moment, that somewhere or other in the hall,
there rises a faint, almost whispered, hiss. Slight as it is,
it falls with startling effect upon the dead silence which
reigns. Then, like the first whisper of a storm, it suddenly
grows and swells and rushes, angrily and witheringly, about
the head of the wretched Oliver. Then as suddenly it dies
away into silence, and the presentation of the Nightingale
Scholarship is at an end.

The visitors, the committee, the ladies, the noble Earl,
look about them in blank astonishment and misery.
The Doctor's face flushes up mightily as he glares for one
instant around him, and then drops his head over the prize
list.

The only thing there is for him to do he does. He calls
on the next name as composedly as he can, and proceeds
with the business of the day.

But the magic has suddenly gone out of prize day, and
no coaxing can bring it back. The Fifth, and after them
the Sixth, advance and receive their rewards amidst the
listless indifference of the audience, and uncheered by the
faintest spark of enthusiasm. No one takes the trouble to
cheer anybody. Even Raleigh, the captain, comes in and
out almost unheeded ; and when at last the final name is
reached, it is a relief to every one.

The rest of the day drags heavily — it is no use trying to
get up the steam. The visitors are out of humour, and the

A QUEER PRIZE DA Y. 291

noble Earl leaves early. The musical feast provided by the
glee club is a failure altogether. A few only come to it,
and nothing interferes with music like a poor audience.

As to the charade, it is abandoned at the last moment.

Then a great many mothers and aunts make the dis-
covery that there is an evening train from Maltby; and
having made it, act upon it; and the tide of emigration sets
out forthwith.

Among the first to depart is Wraysford.

As he appears at the school door, trunk in hand, waiting
for the school omnibus (which vehicle, by the way, is having
a busy time of it), Pembury hobbles up, similarly equipped
for the road.

' You off by this train ? ' says the latter to Wraysford.

' Yes ; are you ? '

' I may as well. I can get home by nine ; and my
people won't be in a great rage if I turn up earlier than
they expect/

' Well, we may as well get a fly as wait for the wretched
omnibus/ says Wraysford. ' Come along ; there are flies at
the corner of Hall Street/

Out walked the two, saying good-bye to one or two on
the road. At the drive gate two boys are standing wait-
ing for the omnibus. Wraysford and Pembury are upon
them before they observe that these are Oliver and his
brother.

What is to be done ? There is no escaping them — they
must pass ; yet both of them, somehow, would at that
moment — they couldn't tell why — have dropped into the
earth.

Oliver looks up as they approach.

Now or never ! Wraysford feels he must say something !

1 Good-bye, Greenfield/ he says. ' I hope — '

Oliver quietly takes Stephen's arm and turns on his heel.

Wraysford stares after him for a moment, and then slowly
goes on his way, breathing hard.

292 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' I wonder/ said Pembury, after a long silence — 'I won-
der, Wray, if it's possible we are wrong about that fellow ? '

Wraysford says nothing.

* He doesn't act like a guilty person. Just fancy, Wray '
— and here Tony pulls up short, in a state of perturbation —
'just fancy if you and I and the rest have been makin
fools of ourselves all the term ! ' ,

Ah ! my Fifth Form heroes, just fancy !

( 293 )

CHAPTER XXX.

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE.

THE three weeks of Christmas holiday darted past only
too rapidly for most of the boys at St. Dominic's.
Holidays have a miserable knack of sliding along. The
first few days seem delightfully long. Then, after the first
week, the middle all of a sudden becomes painfully near.
And the middle once passed, they simply tear, and bolt,
and rush pitilessly on to the end, when, io and behold ! your
time is up before you well knew it had begun.

So it happened with most of the boys. With one or two,
however, the holiday dragged heavily, and one of these was
Master Thomas Senior. This forlorn youth, no longer now
rollicking Tom of the Fifth, but the meek and mild, and
withal sulky, hopeful of the Rev. Thomas Senior, D.D., of
St. Dominic's, watched the last of his chums go off with
anything but glee. He was doomed to three weeks' kick-
ing of his heels in the empty halls and playgrounds of St.
Dominic's, with nothing to do and no one to do it with.
For the boy's mother was ill, "which kept the whole family
at home, and Tom's baby brother, vivacious youth as he
was, was hardly of a companionable age yet.

As to the Doctor (Tom, by the way, even in the bosom
of his family, always thought and talked of his father as the
' Doctor ') — as for the Doctor, well, Tom was inclined to
shirk the risk of more tete-a-tetes than he could possibly

294 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOMINIC'S.

help with so formidable a personage, even though he was his
own parent.

But try all he could, Tom was let in for it once, when he
found himself face to face one day at dinner with the Doctor,
and no third person to help him out.

The occasion was quite early in the holidays, and was
indeed about the first opportunity the father had had since
breaking-up for anything like a conversation with his- affable
son.

Tom's conversational powers were never very brilliant, and
when in the subduing presence of his father they always
dwindled down to nothing. It was, therefore, somewhat
difficult, under the circumstances, to keep the talk going,
but the Doctor did his best. Tom answered in monosylla-
bles, and looked fearfully sheepish, and found his best policy
was always to keep his mouth full, and so have the excuse
of good manners on his side for his silence.

* Tom/ said the Doctor, presently, steering round to a
subject which it had been for some time in his mind to
question his son about, ' that was an extraordinary demon-
stration on prize day, when Greenfield senior came up to get
his scholarship.'

i It wasn't me/ said Tom, colouring up.

* My dear boy, I never supposed it was/ said the Doctor,
laughing. * But it surprised me very much, as well as pained
me/

* I couldn't help it/ again said Tom.

* Of course you could'nt, Tom. But I am sorry to find
Greenfield is so unpopular in the school.'

The Doctor did not care to put a direct question to Tom
on the matter that was perplexing him. He hoped to draw
him out by more indirect means. But he was mistaken if
he ever expected it, for Tom, with the perversity of a fellow
who will take everything that is said as a rebuke to himself,
showed no inclination to follow the lead. The Doctor had,
therefore, to ask outright.

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE. 295

'What dreadful crime has he committed, Tom, to be

treated so severely ? '

' I don't want to treat him severely/ said Tom.

* Tom/ said the Doctor, half angrily, l you are very foolish.
I was not referring to you particularly, but to the whole

school/

Tom sulked at this more than ever. He wasn't going to
be called foolish. The Doctor, however, tried once more.

' Whata has he done to offend you all ? Has he missed
a catch at cricket, or a kick at football ? I hope, whatever

it is—'

* It isn't me ! ' once more growled Tom, heartily wishing
the meal was over.

The Doctor gave it up as a bad job. There was no use
trying to get a rise out of Tom. If that ingenuous youth had

r

been trying to shield his Form, he could not have done it
better. As it was, he was only stupidly trying to shield him-
self, and letting his dread of his ' Doctor ' father get the
better of his common sense and good manners.

Luckily for Tom, a friend wrote to invite him to spend
the last week of the holidays in London, an invitation which
that youth, as well as his parent for him, thankfully accepted.
Indeed, during the holidays Mrs. Senior became so ill that
the poor Doctor had no thoughts to spare for anybody or
anything but her and her hope of recovery. "He watched
her night and day through all the vicissitudes of her fever,
and when at last the crisis was over, and the doctors said
she would recover, they said also that unless Dr. Senior
wanted to have an illness himself he must go away and get
perfect rest and change for a week or two at the very
least.

The consequence of all this was that St. Dominic's
had to reassemble after the Christmas holidays without the
Doctor.

To some of the boys this was sorrowful news ; others
regarded the circumstance with indifference, while one

296 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DQMINICS.

section there was who received the intelligence with positive
joy.

Strange that that section should contain in it two such
opposites as Loman of the Sixth and Bramble of the Fourth
Junior.

Loman, despite his 'run of luck/ had spent an uneasy
holiday. He had been in constant terror of seeing Cripps
every time he ventured outside his house ; and he had been
in still more terror of Cripps calling up at St. Dominic's and
telling the Doctor all about him directly after the holidays.
For now Loman's time was up. Though he had in one way
and another paid off all his debt to the landlord of the Cock-
chafer but eight pounds, still he knew Cripps could make
himself quite as unpleasant about eight pounds as about
thirty pounds, and probably would.

But as long as the Doctor was away it didn't matter so
much. And, besides, the examination for the exhibition
would of course be postponed, which meant so much longer
time for preparation — which meant so much better chance
for Loman of winning it. For, when he tried, he could work
hard and effectively.

So Loman was very glad to hear the Doctor was away ill.
So was Bramble !

That youth (who, by the way, had during the holidays
quite recovered from the sobering effect of his grand-
mother's visit to the school) was always on a look-out for
escaping the eye of the constituted authorities. He hardly
ever saw the Doctor from one month's end to another ; but
somehow, to know he was away— to know any one was away
who ought to be there to look after him — was a glorious
opportunity ! He launched at once into a series of revolu-
tionary exploits on the strength of it. He organised mutinies
ten times a day, and had all the specifications drawn up for
blowing up St. Dominic's with paraffin oil. There was
nothing, in short, Bramble would not venture while the Doctor
was away ; and there is no knowing how far he might have

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE. 297

carried his bloodthirsty conspiracies into effect had not Mr.
Rastle caught him one day with a saw, sawing the legs off
the writing-master's stool, and given him such a chastise-
ment, bodily and mental, as induced him for a brief season
to retire from public life, and devote all his spare time to
copying out an imposition.

On the first morning after reassembling, Mr. Jellicott, the
master in charge of St. Dominic's, summoned the Fourth,
Fifth, and Sixth to meet him in the lecture-theatre, and
there announced to them the reason of the head master's
absence.

'In consequence of this/ said Mr. Jellicott, ' the removes
gained last term will not be put into force for a week or two,
till the head master returns ; but, meanwhile, Dr. Senior is
anxious that the work of the school should go on as usual.
We shall, therefore, resume studies to-morrow ; and on
Monday next the examination for the Waterston Exhibi-
tion will be held, as arranged. The three boys — Loman,
Greenfield senior, and Wraysford — entered for this will be

excused ordinary lessons till after the examination.'

Greenfield senior ! Then Oliver was in for it after all !
The announcement amazed Wraysford as much as it did
Loman and every one else. It had never entered their
minds that he would go in for it. Hadn't he got the
Nightingale ? and wasn't that enough for one half-year ? And
didn't every one know how he had got it, and how could the
fellow now have the assurance to put in for another exam. ?
Oliver always had been a queer fellow, and this move
struck every one as queerer than ever.

But to Wraysford and one or two others it occurred in a
different light. If Oliver had really won the Nightingale in
the manner every one suspected, he would hardly now
boldly enter for another examination, in which he might
possibly not succeed, and so prove those suspicions to be
true. For the subjects were almost exactly the same as
those examined in for the Nightingale, and unless Oliver

298 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

did as well here as he did there — and that was remarkably
well — it would be open for anybody to say, ' Of course — he
couldn't steal the paper this time, that's why 1 '

Wraysford, as he thought over it, became more and more
uneasy and ashamed of himself. One moment he per-
suaded himself Oliver was a hypocrite, and the next that he
was innocent. ' At any rate/ said he to himself, ' this exam.
will settle it.'

In due time the examination day came, and once more
the three rivals heard their names called upon to come forward
and occupy that memorable front desk in the Sixth Form
room.

This time at any rate there had been no chance for any
one to take an unfair advantage, for the Doctor's papers did
not reach St. Dominic's till the morning of the examination.
Indeed, Mr. Jellicott was opening the envelope which con-
tained them when the boys entered the room.

Any one closely observing the three boys as they glanced
each down his paper would once more have been struck by
the strange contrast in their faces. Oliver's, as his eyes
glanced rapidly down the page, was composed and immov-
able ; Wraysford's, as he looked first at his paper and then
hurriedly at Oliver and Loman, was perplexed and troubled ;
Loman's was blank and pale and desponding.

But of the three, the happiest that morning was Wrays-
ford — not that he was sure of success, not that his con-
science was clear of all reproach, but because, as he sat
there, working hard himself and hearing some one's pen on
his left flying with familiar sound quickly over the paper, he
felt at last absolutely sure that he had misjudged his friend,
and equally resolved that, come what would of it, and
humiliating as the confession would be, he would, before
that day ended, be reconciled to Oliver Greenfield. What
mattered it to him, then, who won the exhibition? Loman
might win it for all he cared, as long as he won back his
friend.

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE. 299

However, Loman at that moment did not look much like
winning anything. If he had been in difficulties in the
former examination, he was utterly stranded now. He tried
first one question, then another, but no inspiration seemed
to come ; and at last, after dashing off a few lines at
random, he laid down his pen, and, burying his face in his
hands, gave himself up to his own wretched thoughts. He
must see Cripps soon ; he must go to him or Cripps would
come up to St. Dominic's, and then —

Well, Loman did not do much execution that morning,
and was thankful when presently Mr. Jellicott said, ' Time
will be up in five minutes, boys. 7

The announcement was anything but welcome to the
other two competitors, both of whom were writing, hammer
and tongs, as though their lives depended on it. Loman
looked round at them and groaned as he looked. Why
should they be doing so well and he be doing so ill ?

' Look at those two beggars ! ' said Callonby to Stans-
field, in a whisper, pointing to Wraysford and Oliver.
* There's a neck-and-neck race for you ! '

So it was. Now Oliver seemed to be getting over the
ground quicker, and now Wraysford. Now Wraysford lost
a good second by looking up at the clock ; now Greenfield
made a bad shot with his pen at the inkpot, and had to dip
again, which threw him back half a second at least.

Unconscious of the interest and amusement they were
exciting among the sporting section of the Sixth, they kept
the pace up to the finish, and when at last Mr. Jellicott
said, ' Cease writing and bring up your papers/ both groaned
simultaneously, as much as to say, ' A second or two more
would have done it.'

The examination was over, but the event of that memor-
able day was still to take place.

Five minutes later Oliver, who had retired alone, as usual,
to his study, there to announce to the anxious Stephen how
he had fared in the examination, caught the sudden sound

300 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

of an old familiar footstep outside his door, which sent the
blood to his cheeks with strange emotion. Stephen heard
it, and knew it too.

* There's that beast Wraysford,' he said, at the very
instant that Wraysford, not waiting to knock, flung open
the door and entered.

There was no need for him to announce his errand. It
was written on his face as he advanced with outstretched
hand to his old friend.

1 Noll, old man,' was all he could say, as their eyes met,
'the youngster's right — I am a beast ! '

At the first word — the first friendly word spoken to him
for months — Oliver started to his feet like one electrified ;
and before the sentence was over his hand was tightly grasp-
ing the hand of his friend, and Stephen had disappeared
from the scene

It is no business of ours to pry into that happy study for
the next quarter of an hour. If we did the reader would
very likely be disappointed, or perhaps wearied, or perhaps
convinced that these two were as great fools in the manner
of their making up as they had been in the manner of their
falling out.

Oh ! the happiness of that precious quarter of an hour,
when the veil that has divided two faithful friends is
suddenly dashed aside, and they rush one to the other,
calling themselves every imaginable bad name in the
dictionary, insisting to the verge of quarrelling that it was
all their fault, and no fault at all of the other, far too
rapturous to talk ordinary common sense, and far too for-
getful of everything to remember that they are saying the
same thing over and over again every few minutes.

' The falling out of faithful friends ' — as the old copy-
books say in elegant Virgilian Latin — ' renewing is of love.'
And so it was with Oliver and Wraysford.

Why, they were twice the friends they were before !
Twice ! Fifty times ! And they laughed and talked and

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE. 301

made fools of themselves for a whole half hour over the
discovery, and might have done so for an hour, had not
Stephen, who had patiently remained outside for a reason-
able time, now returned to join in the celebration.

'Stee, you young beggar/ said Wraysford, as the boy
entered, ' if you don't have my tea piping hot to-night, and
fresh herrings for three done to a regular turn, I'll flay you
alive, my boy. And now, if you're good, you may come
and kick me ! '

Stephen, overflowing with joy, and quite rickety with
emotion, flew at his old friend, and, instead of kicking him,
caught hold of his arm, and turning to his brother, cried,

'Oh, Noll ! isn't this prime ? Why, here's old Wray— '

* That beast Wraysford,' suggested the owner of the title ;
( do give a fellow his proper name, young 'un.'

This little interruption put Stephen off his speech ; and
the three, locking the study door, settled down to talk
rationally, or, at any rate, as rationally as they could, over
affairs.

' You see,* said Wraysford, ' I can't imagine now what
possessed me to make such a fool of myself. 7

* Now you needn't begin at that again,' said Oliver. ' If
I hadn't cut up so at that jackass Simon, when he began
about my being in the Doctor's study that evening, it would
never have happened.'

( Bah ! any one might have known the fellow was telling
lies.'

' But he wasn't telling lies,' said Oliver. ' I was in the
Doctor's study all alone that evening, and at the very time
the paper went too. That's just the queer thing about it'

' You were ? ' exclaimed both the boys, for this was news
even to Stephen.

* Yes, of course I was. Don't you know I went to see
him about Stephen, and that row he had up at the Lock? '

* Oh, yes/ said Stephen, ' I remember. I was in a regular
blue funk that evening.'

302 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

' Well, the Doctor wasn't there. I hung about a few-
minutes for him, and then, as he didn't turn up, I left,
and met that old booby just as I was coming out of the
door.'

1 And he's gone and told everybody he saw you coming
out with the paper in your pocket/

Oliver laughed loud at this.

' Upon my word, the fellow must have sharp eyes if he
could do that ! Well, I was so disgusted when he came up
after the exam, and began to insinuate that I knew all about
the missing paper, that — Well, you know how I distin-
guished myself/

1 It would have served him right if you'd throttled him/
observed Wraysford. 'But I say, Noll,' added he more
gravely, ' why on earth, old man, didn't you say all this
then ? What a lot of unpleasantness it would have saved/

' What ! ' exclaimed Oliver, suddenly firing up, ' do you
suppose, when the fellows all chose to believe that miserable
idiot's story, I was going to stir a finger or bother myself a
snap about what they thought ? Bah ! I'm not angry now,
Wray ; but, upon my word, when I think of that time — '

( What a pack of curs we all were,' said Wraysford, almost
as angry as his friend.

' Hear, hear ! ' put in Stephen, an observation which had
the effect of making the whole thing ridiculous and so re-
storing both the friends to their composure.

* But, Noll, I say, old man/ said Wraysford, presently,

' of course you didn't intend it, but if you meant to make
every one believe you did it, you couldn't have gone on
better than you did. I'm certain not half the fellows would
have believed Simon if you hadn't — '

' Made such an ass of myself,' said Oliver, laughing. 'Of
course I can see now how it would all work in beautifully
against me, and I'm certain I've myself to thank for the
whole business.'

* Now, don't say that. Nothing can excuse the way all

A NEW TURN OF THE TIDE. 303

of us treated you, poor old boy. But, thank goodness, it's
all right now. I'll let them know — '

* Now, Wray, that's just what I won't have you do. You
must not say a word to them about it, or, seriously, I'll be
in a great rage. If they can't think well of me of their
own accord, I won't have them do it for anybody else's,
so there.'

' But, Noll, old man

' Upon my word, Wray, I mean what I say. Not a word
to anybody.'

' Do you mean to say you intend to live at Coventry all
your life ? '

'It's not Coventry now, is it, Stee, old boy?' said
Oliver, with a bright smile. ' And now, Wray/ said he,
' 1 want to know how you got on in the exam, to-day.
You were going ahead furiously, it seemed to me.'

' Yes, but wasn't doing much good, I'm afraid. How
have you done ? '

' Pretty well ; but I hadn't time to touch the last
question.'

'I knew, as soon as I saw you were entered for the
exam./ said Wraysford, 'we had all been taking you up
wrong. I can guess now why you went in for it.'

i Well, it struck me it might be a way of putting myself
right with the fellows if I won ; but I'm half afraid I won't
win, and then their highnesses will be doubly sure of my
villainy ! '

' I know you will win/ said Wraysford.

' If I do I shall feel an awful blackguard, for you would
have been certain of it.'

' Vm not so very sure. However, I think I could have
beaten Loman.'

' He seemed out of it, quite. Do you know I think that
fellow is going to the dogs altogether ? '

'Pity/ said Wraysford, 'if he is. but it does look like it.'

( 3^4 )

CHAPTER XXXI.

LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN.

IT certainly did look as if Loman was going to the dogs.
And any one able to see and know all that was going
on. in his mind would have found out that he was a good
deal nearer i the dogs ' even than he seemed.

On the evening after the examination he received a note
from Cripps — brought up in a most barefaced way by one
of the potboys at the Cockchafer — requesting the pleasure
of Mr. Loman's company at that pleasant spot immediately,
to talk over business !

'Why didn't he send it by post? ' demanded Loman,
angrily, of the disreputable messenger. * Don't you know
if you were seen up here there'd be a row ? '

( Dunno so much about that, but the governor, he says
he's dead on the job this time, he says, and if you don't
show up sharp with the stumpy, he says he'll give you a call
himself and wake you up, he says — '

' Tell him I'll come, and go off quick,' said Loman,
hurriedly.

( Beg pardon, mister,' said the potboy, with a leer, and

F

touching his cap, ' anything allowed for this here little job —
carrying up the letter?'

' I'll allow you a kick if you don't go ! ' exclaimed the
wretched Loman, furiously.

' Oh, very good,' said the boy, making a long nose. ' Wait
till the governor walks up. We'll see who'll kick then ! '

LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN, 305

And so saying the amiable and respectable youth
departed.

' Hullo ! ' said Wren, coming up just at this moment,
' who's your friend, Loman? He looks a nice sort of boy ! *

Wren was now captain and head monitor at St. Dominic's
— far too blunt and honest ever to be an object of anything
but dislike and uneasiness to Loman. Now the uneasiness
was the more prominent of the two. Loman replied, con-
fused and reddening,

4 Oh, that boy ? Why — oh, he's a shop-boy from the town,
come up about an order — you know — for a hat-box.'

' I don't know. Do you mean Morris's boy ? '

'Ye — yes. A new boy of Morris's.'

' Well, whoever he is, he's a precious cheeky specimen.
Why didn't you kick him ? '

1 Eh ? Kick him ? Yes, I was just going to,' began
Loman, scarcely knowing what he said, ' when — '

' When I turned up? Well, I shouldn't have interfered.
By the way, Loman, I suppose you've given up going to that
public now ? What's the fellow's name ? '

' Cripps/ said Loman. * Oh, I never go near the place
now.'

' That's a good job. It was awkward enough his turning
up as he did last term, and all a chance the Doctor didn't
hear of it, I can tell you. Anyhow, now I'm captain, that
sort of thing will have to drop, mind.'

' Oh, I assure you I've never been near the place since/
said Loman, meekly, anxious if possible to keep the new
captain in humour, much as he disliked him.

* I'm glad of it, f said Wren, coldly.

Just at that moment a third personage arrived on the
scene. This was Simon, who approached, not noticing
Wren, and crying out with his usual gush,

' Hullo, Loman, I say. I saw Cripps to-day. He was
asking after you. He says you've not been down since last
Sat— Hullo, Wren ! '

306 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS,

And here the poet caught sight of the captain.

' So you've been down to the Cockchafer, have you ? '
inquired Wren.

' Well. Oh, don't tell, Wren, I say. I don't often go.
Ask Loman if I do. He's always there, and could easily
tell if I went. Do I go often, Loman? Besides, I've
given it up now ! '

' Quick work/ observed Wren, drily, ' if you were down
there this morning. 1

'Well,' said Simon, shifting his ground slightly, 'I didn't
think there could be any harm, as Loman goes. He's
a monitor. And then I don't owe Cripps money, do I,
Loman? Or play cards and bet, like you, do I? Oh,
look here, Wren, do let us off this time. Don't report me,
there's a good fellow. I promise I won't do it again ! Oh,
I say, Loman, beg us off. I never let out on you — not
even when you got — '

Wren, who had allowed this burst of eloquence to pro-
ceed thus far, here turned sharply on his heel, and left the
two companions in wrong in possession of the field.

Next morning, when Loman got up, he found the fol-
lowing note on his table :

'Wraysford takes your place as monitor. The Doctor
will be told you have "resigned." — C. W. }

Loman crushed the paper angrily in his. hand, and mut-
tered a curse as he flung it into the fire. He felt little
enough gratitude to Wren for describing him merely as
resigned, and not, as was actually the case, dismissed.
Yet, even in his wretchedness, there was an atom of relief
in knowing that at least a shred of his good old name
remained.

Poor shred indeed ! but better than nothing.

Every one treated him as usual — except Wren, who cut
him contemptuously. The Sixth, ever since the exposure
at the football match last term, had lost any respect they
ever had for their comrade, and many had wondered how

LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN. 307

it was he was still allowed to remain a monitor. Every one
now supposed he had taken 'the better part of valour' in
resigning, and, as it mattered very little to any one what he
did, and still less what he thought, they witnessed his deposi-

F

tion from the post of honour with profound indifference.

Poor Loman ! Some righteous reader will be shocked
at my pitying such a foolish, miserable failure of a fellow
as this Edward Loman ; and yet he was to be pitied, wasn't
he ? He hadn't been naturally a vicious boy, or a cowardly
boy, or a stupid boy, but he had become all three ; and as
he sat and brooded over his hard luck, as he called it, that
morning, his mind was filled with mingled misery and fear
and malice towards every one and everything, and he feit
well-nigh desperate.

His interview with Cripps came off that afternoon. The
landlord of the Cockchafer, as the reader may Have gathered,
had changed his tone pretty considerably the last few days,
and Loman found it out now.

' Well ? ' said he, gloomily, as the boy entered.

* Well ? ' said Loman, not knowing how to begin.
' I suppose you've got my money ? ' said Cripps.

' No, Cripps, I haven't,' said the boy.

' All right,' said Cripps ; ' that's quite enough for me \ '
and, to Loman's astonishment and terror, he walked away
without another word, and left the unhappy boy to stay or

go as he pleased.

Loman could not go, leaving things thus. He must see
Cripps again, if it was only to know the worst. So he
stayed in the bar for the landlord's return. Cripps took no
notice of him, but went on with his ordinary pursuits,
smiling to himself in a way which perfectly terrified his
victim. Loman had never seen Cripps like this before.

* Cripps,' he said, after half an hour's waiting — 'Cripps,
I want to speak to you.'

' You may want,' was the surly reply. ' I've done with
you, young gentleman.'

3 o8 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' Oh, Cripps, don't talk like that ! I do mean to pay
you, every farthing, but — '

'Yes, you're very good at meaning, you are,' said the
other. 'Anyhow, it don't much matter to me now*

'What do you mean, Cripps? . Oh, do give me a little
more time ! A week — only a week longer.'

' Aren't you done ? ' was the only reply ; ' aren't you
going home ? '

' Will you, Cripps ? Have pity on me I I'm so
miserable ! '

Cripps only whistled pleasantly to himself.

Loman, almost frantic, made one last effort.

'Give us just a week more,' he entreated.

No answer.

' Do speak, Cripps ; say you will ; please do ! '

Cripps only laughed and went on whistling.

' Oh, what shall I do, what shall I do ? ' cried the
wretched boy. ' I shall be ruined if you don't have some
pity.'

' Look here,' said Cripps, curtly, ' you'd better stop that
noise here, my lad. You can go ; do you hear ? Look
alive.'

It was no use staying further. Loman went

What anguish he endured for the next twenty-four hours
no one knows. What plans he turned in his head, what
wild schemes, what despair, what terrors filled him, only he
himself could tell. Every moment he expected the fatal
vision of Cripps at St. Dominic's, and with it his own
certain disgrace and ruin, and, as time went on, his pertur-
bation became so great that he really felt ill with it.

But Cripps did not come that day or the next. The
next day was one of mighty excitement in St. Dominic's.
The result of the examination for the Waterston Exhibition
was announced.

Had any other three boys but those actually taking part
been the competitors, few outsiders would have felt much

LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN. 309

interest in the result of an ordinary examination confined
to Sixth Form boys. But on this occasion, as we have
seen, the general curiosity was aroused. No one expected
much of Loman. The school had discovered pretty well
by this time that he was an impostor, and their chief sur-
prise had been that he should venture into the list against
two such good men as Oliver and Wraysford.

But which of those two was to win ? That was the
question. Every one but a few had been positive it would
be Wraysford, whom they looked upon as the lawful winner
of the Nightingale last term, and whom, they were con-
vinced, Oliver was unable to beat by fair means. And yet
to these it had been a great astonishment to hear that
Oliver had entered for the examination. Unless he was
certain of winning he would only do himself harm by it,
and confirm the suspicions against him. And yet, if he
should win after all — if he was able fairly to beat Wrays-
ford — why should he have gone to the trouble last term of
stealing the examination paper and making himself the
most unpopular boy in all St. Dominic's?

These questions sorely exercised the school, and made
them await eagerly the announcement of the result.

The news came at last.

'I have just received/ said Mr. Jellicott that morning,
when the Fifth and Sixth were assembled together in the
lecture theatre — ' I have just received from the examiners
the report on the Waterston examination. The result is as
follows : First — Greenfield, 108 marks ; second — Wrays-
ford, 96 marks ; third — Loman, 20 marks/

Here Mr. Jellicott was interrupted by a laugh and a
muttered ' Bravo, Loman ! very good ! ' in what sounded
to the knowing something like Pembury's voice. The
master looked up and frowned angrily, and then proceeded :
' The examiners add an expression of their very high approval
of Greenfield's answers. The highest marks obtainable were
120, and, considering he left the last question untouched —

310 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOMINIC'S.

doubtless for want of time — they feel that he has passed
with very great distinction, and fully in accordance with
their expectations of the winner of the Nightingale Scholar-
ship last term. We will now proceed to the usual lessons.'
This announcement made the strangest impression on all
present. No one attempted any demonstration, but while
Mr. Jellicott was speaking many perplexed and troubled

faces turned to where Oliver, by the side of his friend
Wraysford, was sitting. Wraysford's face was beaming as
he clapped his friend on the back. Oliver looked as
unconcerned and indifferent as ever. The fellow was a
puzzle, certainly.

As soon as lesson was over, the Fifth retired to its own
quarters in a perturbed state of mind, there to ponder over
what had happened. Oliver spared them the embarrass-
ment of his society as usual, and Wraysford was not there
either. So the Fifth were left pretty much to their own
devices and the guidance of some lesser lights.

'Isn't it queer?' said Ricketts. 'Whoever would have
thought of it turning out like this ? '

' One could understand it/ said Braddy, ' if there had
been any chance of his repeating the dodge of last term.
But he couldn't have done that.'

' I don't know/ said another ; 'he may have been up to
some other dodge. Perhaps he copied off Wraysford.'

' Hardly likely/ said Bullinger, ' up on the front desk just
under Jellicott's nose.'

' Well, I can't make it out at all/ said Ricketts.

' Nor can 1/ said Bullinger.

All this while Pembury had not spoken, but he now
turned to Simon, and said,

' What do you think, Simon ? Did you see Greenfield
stealing the examination paper this time, eh ? '

' Oh, no, not this time,' promptly replied the poet ; ' last
term it was, you know. I didn't see him this time.'

' Oh, you didn't even see him with it in his pocket ? Now,

LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN, 311

be very careful. Are you sure he didn't have it in his pocket
a day before the exam. ? '

' Why/ said Simon, laughing at Pembury's innocence,
' how could I see what was in a fellow's pocket, Pembury,
you silly ! I can't tell what's in your pocket/

* Oh, can't you? I thought you could, upon my honour.
I thought you saw the paper in Greenfield's pocket last term. 7

« So I did. That is—'

Here the wretched poet was interrupted by a general
laugh, in the midst of which he modestly retired to the
background, and left the Fifth to solve the riddle in hand
by themselves.

' Suppose,' began Pembury, after a pause — * suppose, when
Braddy's done playing the fool, if such a time ever comes — '

Here Braddy collapsed entirely. He would sooner be
sat upon by Dr. Senior himself than by Pembury.

' Suppose,' once more began Pembury, amid dead silence
— ' suppose, instead of Greenfield senior being a thief and
liar, I and all of you have been fools and worse for the last
six months ? Wouldn't that be funny, you fellows ? '

' Why, whatever do you mean ? ' demanded Tom Senior.

'Why, you don't suppose I mean anything, do you? 7
retorted the cross-grained Tony. ( What's the use of
saying what you mean — '

' But do you really — ' began Bullinger.

' I say, suppose I and you, Bullinger, and one or two
others here who ought to have known better, have been
making fools of ourselves, wouldn't that be funny ? '

There was a pause, till Simon, plucking up heart, replied,

' Very funny ! '

The gravity even of Pembury broke down at this, and the
present conference of the Fifth ended without arriving at any
nearer conclusion on the question which was perplexing it.

Meanwhile, Oliver and Wraysford were in their study,
talking over the event of the day.

' I was certain how it would be, old boy,' said Wraysford,

312 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

genuinely delighted. 'I wonder what the Fifth will say
now ? Bah ! it doesn't become me to say too much,
though, for I was as bad as any of them myself/

' No, you weren't, old boy ; you never really believed it.
But I say, Wray, I don't intend, to take this exhibition.
You must have it.'

' I ! ' exclaimed Wraysford. ' Not a bit of me. You
won it.'

1 But I never meant to go in for it, and wouldn't have if
it had not been for the Fifth. After all, it's only twenty
pounds. Do take it, old man. I've got the Nightingale,
you know.'

' What does that matter ? I wouldn't have this for any-
thing. The fellows tried to make me think /was the real
winner of the Nightingale, and I was idiot enough half to
believe it But I think I've had a lesson.'

' But, Wray—'

( Not a word, my dear fellow ; I won't hear of it.'

* Very well, then ; I shall shy the money when I get it
into the nearest fish-pond.'

* All serene,' said Wraysford, laughing ; ' I hope the fish
will relish it.'

At that moment there was a knock at the door.

' Come in,' said Oliver.

The door opened, and, to the astonishment of the two
boys, Loman entered.

Was it peace, or war, or what ? Loman's miserable face
and strange manner quickly answered the question.

' Oh, Greenfield/ he said, ' excuse me. I want to speak
to you ; ' and here he glanced at Wraysford, who rose to go.

* Stay where you are, Wray,' said Oliver. ( What is it,
Loman ? '

Loman, quite cowed, hardly knew how to go on.

4 1 was glad to hear you got the Waterston,' he said. ' I

I thought you would.'

What was the fellow at ?

LOMAN IN L UCK AGAIN. 313

After a long pause, which seemed to drive Loman almost
to despair, he said,

1 You'll wonder what I have come here for. I know we've
not been friends. But — but, Greenfield, I'm in awful trouble.'

' What is it ? ' again asked Oliver.

* Why, the fact is/ said Loman, gaining courage, as he
found neither Oliver nor Wraysford disposed to resent his
visit — * the fact is, Greenfield, I'm in debt. I've been very
foolish, you know, betting and all that. I say, Greenfield,
could you possibly — would you lend me — eight pounds?
I don't know why I ask you, but unless I can pay the
money to-day, I shall — '

What ! ' exclaimed Oliver, ' eight pounds to pay your bets ? '

* Oh, no, not all bets. I've been swindled too — by Cripps.
You know Cripps.'

And here Loman, utterly miserable, threw himself down
on a chair and looked beseechingly at the two friends.

' I could pay you back in a month or so,' he went on;
'or at any rate before Easter. Do lend it me, please,
Greenfield. I don't know where else to go and ask, and I
shall get into such an awful row if I can't pay. Will you ? '

Oliver looked at Wraysford; Wraysford looked at
Oliver; and then both looked at Loman. The sight of
the wretched boy there entreating money of the very fellow
who had least reason in all St. Dominic's to like him, was

strange indeed.

* Wray,' said Oliver, abruptly, after another pause, dur-
ing which he had evidently made up his mind, ' have you
any money about you ? '

* I've three pounds,' said Wraysford, taking out his purse.
Oliver went to his desk and took from it a five-pound

note which was there, his savings for the last year. This,
with Wraysford's three sovereigns, he handed without a
word to Loman. Then, not waiting to hear the thanks
which the wretched boy tried to utter, he took Wraysford's
arm and walked out of the study.

( 314)

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND.

THE Fifth were a good while coming round on the
question of Greenfield senior. But the delay was
more on account of pride than because they still considered
their old class-fellow a knave. They had taken up such a
grand position last term, and talked so magnificently about
honour, and morality, and the credit of the school, that it
was a sad come-down now to have to admit they had all
been -wrong, and still more that they had all been fools.
And yet, after what had happened, they could no longer
retain their suspicions of Oliver Greenfield.

A few of the better sort, like Pembury and Bullinger, had
the courage, at whatever cost, to act up to their convictions,
and declared at once that they had been wrong, and were
ashamed of it.

The next step was to approach Oliver, and that was more
difficult, for he was such a queer fellow there was no know-
ing where to have him. However, Pembury's wit helped
him over the difficulty as usual.

He was hobbling down the passage one morning when
he suddenly encountered Oliver and Wraysford, arm-in-arm,
approaching him. If at any time in his life Pembury did
feel uncomfortable and awkward he felt it now. If he let
Oliver go by this time without making it up somehow, the
chance might never come again ; but how to set about it,
that was the difficulty, and every half-second brought the

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND. 315

two nearer. Twenty different ideas flashed through his
mind. He was not the sort of fellow to go to any one and
eat humble-pie straight off. That was far too tame a pro-
ceeding. No, there was only one way he could think of,
and he would chance that.

* Noll, old man/ said he, in the old familiar tones,
* you've got a spare arm. May I take it ? '

Oliver stopped short and looked at him for an instant in
astonishment. Next moment, with a hearty ' Rather ! '
he slipped his arm into that of the happy Pembury, and the
three went on their way rejoicing, a sight and a moral for
all St. Dominic's.

That was the whole of Anthony Pembury's making up. As
for Bullinger, he wrote his man a letter, worded in beautiful
English, in the most elegant handwriting and punctuated to
a nicety, setting forth his contrition, and his hope that
Greenfield would henceforth reckon him among his
friends — * Yours very sincerely, H. Bullinger.' This literary
effort he carefully dispatched by a Guinea-pig to its desti-
nation, and awaited a reply with the utmost impatience.
The reply was laconic, but highly satisfactory. It was a
verbal one, given by Oliver himself in class that afternoon,
who volunteered the information to the delighted Bullinger
that it was a ' jolly day.'

It was indeed a jolly day to that contrite youth. He
never believed it would all be got over so easily. He had
dreaded all sorts of scenes and lectures and humiliations,
but here he was, by a single word, passed back straight into
friendship, and no questions asked.

The sight of Oliver surrounded by these three friends, of
whom it would have been hard to say which was the hap-
piest, made a deep impression j on the rest of the Fifth,
and certainly did not tend to make them feel more com-
fortable as to what they ought to do in a similar direction.

' It's all very well,' said Ricketts, when the question was
being canvassed for the hundredth time among his imme-

316 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

diate friends. ' I dare say they are all right, but it makes it

jolly uncomfortable for us.'

' They oughtn't to have given in in this way without
letting the rest of us know first/ said Braddy. i Just see
what a corner it puts us in.'

' All I can say is/ said Tom Senior, ' I'll be better satis-
fied when I know who did collar that paper if Greenfield
didn't.'

' Oh, but/ said Simon, seeing a chance, ' I can assure you
I saw him when he took it I was going — '

' Shut up, you great booby ! ' cried Ricketts ; ' who asked
you anything about it ? '

Simon modestly retired hereupon, and Braddy took up
the talk.

' Yes, who did take the paper ? that's it Greenfield must
have done it. Why, he as good as admitted it last term/

'Well, then, it's very queer those fellows making up to
him/ said Ricketts. ' It's no use our trying to send the
fellow to Coventry when the others don't back us up.'

' Wraysford always was daft about Greenfield/ said Tom
Senior, 'but I am astonished at Pembury and Bullinger.'

' All I can say is/ said Braddy, ' Greenfield will have to
ask me before I have anything to do with him.'

* And do you know/ said Ricketts, ' I heard today he is
down to play in the match against the County.'

'Is he?' exclaimed Braddy in excitement; 'very well,
then, /shall not play if he does. That's all about that'
Ricketts laughed.

* Awfully sorry, old man, but you're not in the fifteen this
time.'

Braddy's face was a picture at this moment — he turned
red and blue and white in his astonishment

' What ! ' he exclaimed, as soon as he could find words.
' I'm not in the team ! '

' You'll see the list on the notice board ; you'd better go
and look.'

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND. 317

Off went the wretched Braddy to be convinced of his
fate.

' You're in the team, Ricketts, I see/ said Tom Senior.
i Shall you play if Greenfield does ? '

'Don't know/ said Ricketts. ( A fellow doesn't get a
chance to play against the County every day. It's precious
awkward/

' So it is ; that's just where we began, too,' said Tom,
philosophically. And, as a matter of fact, whenever these
young gentlemen of the Fifth started the subject of Green-
field senior among themselves, they always found themselves
in the end at the identical place from which they had set
out.

Nor were they the only boys at St. Dominic's in this
dilemma. The Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles were equally
taken aback by the new aspect of affairs. These young
gentlemen had looked upon Oliver's * row ' with his class as
a peculiar mercy designed specially for their benefit. They
had hardly known such a happy time as that during which
the row had lasted. Did they want a pretext for a battle ?
Greenfield senior was a glorious bone of contention. Did
they want an object for an indignation meeting? What
better object could they have than Greenfield senior? Did
they want an excuse generally for laziness, disobedience, and
tumult? Greenfield senior served for this too. Indeed,
the name of the Fifth Form Martyr had passed into a
household word among the lower school, either of glory or
reproach, and round it the small fry rallied, as round an old
flag of battle.

But now, both friend and foe were aghast. To the
Guinea-pigs half the charm of their position had been that

they were Greenfield senior's sole champions in all St.
Dominic's. While every one else avoided him, they stuck
to him, week-days and Sundays. Now, however, they dis-
covered, with something like consternation, that they no
longer had the field to themselves.

3i 8 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

The sight of Greenfield senior walking down the passage
one day, arm-in-arm with Wraysford, and the next day with
one arm in Wraysford' s and the other in Pembury's, and the
day after between Pembury and Bullinger, with Wraysford
and Stephen in the rear, struck bewilderment and bitter
jealousy to their hearts.

They had come out into the passage to cheer, but they
went away silently and sadly, feeling that their very occupa-
tion was departed.

Bramble, always quick to see a chance, took advantage as
usual of this panic.

( Hullo, I say, Guinea-pigs, you can shut up shop now,
you know. We're going to let off Greenfield senior this
time, ain't we, Padger? Jolly fellow, Greenfield senior.'

This was abominable ! To have their hero and idol thus
calmly taken out of their hands and appropriated by a set
of sneaking Tadpoles was more than human patience could

endure !

' Bah ! A lot he'll care for your [letting him off ! ' ex-
claimed Paul, in dire contempt. ' He wouldn't touch you
with a shovel.'

6 Oh, yes, he would, though, wouldn't he, Padger ? And
what do you think, Guinea-pigs ? we're going to get Greenfield
senior to take the chair at one of our meetings I '

Bramble came out with the last triumphant announce-
ment with a positive shout, which made the hearts of his
adversaries turn cold. Tn vain they laughed the idea to
scorn ; in vain they argued that if for the last six months
he had never said a word even to the Guinea-pigs, he would
hardly now come and take up with the Tadpoles. Bramble
and Padger insisted on their story.

'Now, you fellows,' concluded Bramble, at the end of
another oration ; ' those who say three cheers for Greenfield
senior hold uj>

The infuriated Paul here hurled the cap of a brother
Guinea-pig, who was standing near him, full at the face of

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND. 3*9

the speaker, who thereupon, altering the current of his
observations, descended from his form and ' went for ' his
opponent.

From that day a keener war raged round the head of
Greenfield senior than ever. Not of attack and defence of
his character, but of rivalry as to whom should be accounted
his foremost champions.

It was at this critical period in the history of St. Dominic's
that a new number of the Dominican came out. Pembury
had been compelled to write it nearly all himself, for, in the
present state of divided feeling in the Fifth, he found it
harder than ever to get contributions.

Even those of his own way of thinking, Oliver, Wrays-
ford, and Bullinger, begged to be let off, and, indeed, the
two former ingeniously pleaded that, as they were now really
Sixth Form fellows (though remaining in their old class till
the Doctor came home), they had no right to have a hand
in the Fifth Form magazine. And their conscientious
scruples on this ground were so strong that no persuasions
of Anthony's could shake them. So the unlucky editor had
finally, as on a previous occasion, to retire into private life
for a season, and get the whole thing out "himself, with only
the aid of a few inches of * Sonits * from Simon.

But ' what man has done man can do, 1 and this time the
editor's efforts were crowned with no less success than on

r

the former occasion.

The Dominican certainly did not seem to have lost its
novelty, to judge by the crowd which once more assembled
outside the classic portals of the Fifth, to peruse the contents
of the now familiar big oak frame.

' School News ' was the first item of Tony's bill of fare.

After announcing in appropriate terms the Doctor's illness,
and ' universal hope of seeing him back in all his former
vigour ' (one or two boys whistled low as they read this, and
thought the editor might at least have been content to
* speak for himself^), Anthony went on to announce the

320 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

various school events which had happened since the publi-
cation of the last number. Christmas prize-day of course
came in for a good share of the description, and contained
a touch-off for everybody.

' The Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles/ said the Dominica7i y
'looked quite unearthly in their cleanliness. It was com-
monly reported that one or two of them had washed their
faces twice in one week. But this is hardly credible. It is,
however, a fact that Bramble was shut up in his study for
half an hour with his grandmother and a basin of hot water,
and that the conclusion come to from the yells and shrieks
which proceeded from the torture-chamber that evening,
and the appearance of the dear child next day, is that he
undoubtedly underwent one scrubbing this term.'

Bramble's face turned so purple at the reading of this
that it was impossible to say whether or not any traces of

the scouring still remained. He favoured Paul, who stood
in front of him, with a furious kick, which that young gentle-
man, always punctual in his obligations, promptly repaid,
and the two combatants somehow managed to miss a good
deal of what immediately followed.

After describing the other incidents of prize-day, the
Do?ninican went on as follows :

' But the event of the day was the presentation of the
Nightingale Scholarship, which will be sufficiently fresh in
our readers' memories to need no comment here, save this
one word — that the only Dominican who behaved himself
like a gentleman during that remarkable scene was the
winner of the scholarship himself!'

This was coming round with a vengeance ! The Fifth
had half expected it, and now they felt more uncomfortable
than ever.

Nor did the succeeding paragraphs leave them much
chance of recovery.

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND. 321

1 The Waterston Exhibition, our readers will be glad to
hear, has been won — and won brilliantly — by Oliver Green-
field, now of the Sixth. No fellow in St. Dominic's deserves
the honour better. 7

Then, as if his penitence were not yet complete, Pembury
went on boldly farther on :

' Speaking of Greenfield senior, it is time some of us who
have been doing him injustice for a whole term did what
little we could to make amends now. So here goes. Take
notice, all of you, that we, the undersigned, are heartily
ashamed of our conduct to Greenfield senior, and desire all
St. Dominic's to know it. Signed, A. Pembury, H. Wrays-
ford, T. Bullinger.'

The effect of this manifesto was curious. Pembury him-
self had been unable to prophesy how it would be taken.
The boys in front of the board, as they heard it read out,
couldn't tell exactly whether to laugh or be serious over the
paragraph. Most, however, did the latter, and hurried on
to the next sentence :

' The following are also ashamed of themselves, but don't

*

like to say so. The Dominican means to give them a leg
up : — Tom Senior, G. Ricketts, R. Braddy, and the rest of
the Fifth, except Simon, who never was or could be ashamed
of himself while he lived to write such pathetic, soul-stirring
lines as the following " Sonits " ' : —

[It was a great relief to one or two who stood by that
Pembury had thus cunningly gone on from grave to gay,
and left no pause after the very awkward paragraph about
the Fifth.]

Son it A.

To the Dominican.

I cannot write as I would like all in a noisy room

There's such a noise of mortal boys who sometimes go and come

Oh I will to the woods away all in the lonely shade

Where I no more of being disturbed need not to be afraid.

322 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

SONIT B.

To Dr. Senior.

Dear Doctor I am very grieved to hear that you are not well
Oh cruel fate and yet methinks one cannot always tell
Things are so catching nowadays I wonder if I ever
Shall like unto the Doctor be by catching a low fever.

Sonit C.

To O— G—

Oh Greenfield melancholy wite 1 hear me once before I go
'Tis sad to see the blossoms all in autumn time fall low
Canst thou recall that night in September when in the passage fair
I met you all so unexpectedly and you didn't seem to care
Oh may my hair turn white and me become a soreing lark
Before the memory of that day shines out in life's last spark.

This was beautiful. St. Dominic's was beginning to
appreciate poetry at last ! Simon was positively delirious
with triumph when, after the burst of laughter (he called it
applause) which greeted the reading of this gem, some one

cried out —

* Oh, I say ! read that last one again, some one ! ' And
then, amid redoubled hilarity, the whole effusion was
encored.

The poet promptly sought out his enthusiastic admirer.

' Oh 1 I say/ said he, * would you like a copy of it ? '

' Eh — oh, rather ! ' was the reply.

'Very good. You won't mind if I put a few more verses
in, will you ? Pembury had to cut some out.'

' My dear fellow, I sha'n't be happy unless I get at least
twenty pages.'

So off went the delighted Simon to work at this self-
imposed task, and caring little about the rest of the
Dominican.

But some of that was worth reading, too. Tony's leading
article, for instance, was an important document. It was

1 Possibly 'wight.'

THE 'DOMINICAN' COMES ROUND. 323

headed ' Gone Up/ and began, ( Alas ! our occupation's
gone ! No longer will the Dominican be able to bring its
sledge-hammer down on high places and walk into the Sixth,
For two of our men, O Fifth ! — Greenfield and Wraysford —
have joined the classic ranks of those who eat toffy in the
top form, and play " odds and evens" under the highest
desks of St. Dominic's. We must be careful now, or we
shall catch it. And yet we ought to congratulate the Sixth !
At last they have got intelligence and high principle, and
two good men behind a scrimmage among them ; and more
are coming ! There's some hope for the Sixth yet, and we
would not grudge even our two best men for such a good
object as regenerating the top form of St. Dominic's,' and
so on — not very flatteiing to the Sixth, or very comfortable
for its two newest members, who, however, had prudently
retired from the scene long ago, as soon as the first refer-
ences to Oliver had been read out.

Then came ' Notes from Coventry, continued/ which were
very brief. ( Since our last, the population of Coventry has
undergone a change. The former inhabitant has walked
out with flying colours, and the place is empty. Who wants
to go ? '

Then came one or two odd paragraphs; one of them
was: —

* By the way, the Dominican wants to know why Loman
is no longer a monitor ? Do his engagements with friends
in Maltby prevent his giving the necessary time to this duty?
or are the Sixth beginning to see that if they want order in
the school they must have fellows who have at least a little
influence to do it ? They have done well in appointing
Wraysford. But why is Loman "resigned"? Who can
tell ? It's a riddle. A prize for the Lest answer in our
next/

The finishing stroke, however, was Pembury's ' Notes and

324 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC'S.

Queries from Down Below/ supposed to be of special interest
to the Fourth Junior. The first was as follows : —

' Lessons.- — Padger the Tadpole writes to ask, lt How do
you do lessons ? " The answer is a simple one, Padger.
If you are a member of the Fourth Junior, as we have a
vague idea you are, the way of " doing " lessons there is as
follows : Sit at a desk full of old cherry-stones, orange-peel,
and dusty sherbet, and put your elbows on it. Then with
your pen scatter as much ink as you conveniently can over
your own collar and face, and everybody else, without
unduly exerting yourself. After that kick your right and
left neighbours ; then carefully rub your hands in the dust
ar.d pass them several times over your countenance, all the
while making the most hideous and abominable howls
and shrieks you can invent. And then your lessons are
" done." '

This paragraph so grievously incensed the honourable
community at which it was directed, that for the first time
for some months Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles made common
cause to protest against the base insinuations it contained.

The 'meeting' in the Fourth Junior that afternoon lasted,
on and off, from half-past four to half-past eight. Among
the speakers were Bramble, Paul, and Stephen ; while
Padger, Walker, and Rook did very good execution with
their fists. About half-past seven the dust was so dense
that it was impossible to see across the room ; but those
who knew reported that there was another row on about
Greenfield senior, and that Paul and Padger were having
their twenty-seventh round ! Anyhow, the Guinea-pigs and
Tadpoles missed the rest of the Dominican, which, however,
only contained one other paragraph of special interest :

' To-morrow week the football match of the season, School
against County, will be played in the St. Dominic's meadow.
We are glad to say the School team will be a crack one, in-

THE "DOMINICAN" COMES ROUND. 325

eluding this time Greenfield senior, and excluding one or
two of the "incompetents" of last term. The following is
the school fifteen : — Stansfield (football captain), Brown,
Winter, Callonby, Duncan, Ricketts, T. Senior, Henderson,

Carter, and Watkins, forwards ; Wren (school captain) and
Forrester (iv.), quarter-back ; Greenfield and Bullinger,
half-back ; and Wraysford, back. With a team like this the
school ought to give a good account of itself against our

visitors/

This announcement was interesting in more than on
respect. Greenfield was in the team, Loman was not

( 3=6)

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

IT is now time to return to Loman, whom we left two
chapters ago, with his usual luck, standing in Green-
field's study with the £8 in his hand which was finally to
clear him of all his troubles, set him once for all on his
feet again, and take such a weight off his mind as ought to
leave him the lightest-hearted boy in all St. Dominic's.

He stood there for a minute or two after Oliver and
Wraysford had left the room, too bewildered to collect his
thoughts or realise one-half of his good fortune, for he had
come to Oliver in his extremity as a desperate chance, fully
expecting an angry rebuff — or, at best, a chilling snub.
But to get through the interview like this, and find the
money in his hand within three minutes of his entering the
room — why, it quite took his breath away.

Oliver Greenfield was a queer, unaccountable fellow, and
no mistake !

Yet, strange to say, when Loman did come to himself he
did not burst out into a rapture of delight and gratitude.
On the contrary, he suddenly felt himself growing to such
a pitch of misery and low spirits as even in the worst of his
troubles he had never experienced. He repented bitterly
of ever bringing himself to come and ask such a favour of
his worst enemy, and, stranger than all, he felt his dislike
for Greenfield increased rather than swept away by this
abrupt, startling piece of generosity. Strange the whims

A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 327

that seize us ! Loman would almost have been happier in
his old suspense about Cripps than to feel he owed such a
debt to such a creditor.

However, the thought of Cripps, his other creditor,
flashed suddenly through his mind at that moment, so,
closing his hand over the money, he turned moodily and
left the room.

At any rate, he would get clear of Cripps now he had
the chance.

As soon as ever morning school was over he took his hat
and traversed once more the familiar road between St.
Dominic's and the Cockchafer. ' Is Cripps at home ? ' he
inquired of the potboy.

' Yas,' said the boy. ' Who wants him ? '

' I do, you young blockhead ! '

'You do? Oh, all right! I'll tell him, mister. Don't
you collar no mugs while I'm gone, mind ! '

The very potboys despised and ridiculed him !

Loman waited patiently for a quarter of an hour, when
the boy returned.

' Oh ! ' said he, * the governor can't see you, he says.
He's a-smoking his pipe, he says, and he ain't a-goin' to put
himself about, he says, for the likes of you. That's what
he says ! Ti ridde tol rol ro ! ' and here the youth indulged
in a spitefully cheerful carol as he resumed the polishing
of the mugs.

* Look here ! ' said Loman, miserable and half frightened,
'tell him I must see him; I've got some money for him,
tell him.'

'No! have you?' said the boy. 'Well, wait till I've
done this here job — I'm dead on this here job, I am !
You can keep, you can.*

This was too much even for the dispirited and cowed
Loman. He caught the impudent boy a box on the ear,
which resounded all over the Cockchafer, and sent him
howling and yelling to his master.

328 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST DOMINIC S.

Cripps appeared at last in a fury. What, he demanded,
with half a dozen oaths, did Loman mean by coming there
and assaulting him and his assistants? 'What do you
mean, you thieving jackanapes, you ! Get out of my shop,
do you hear? or 111 get some one in who will help you out !
Fll teach )'ou to come here and make yourself at home,
you lying — '

'Now, Cripps,' began Loman.

1 Hold your noise ! do you hear ? ' said Cripps, savagely.

'I'm very sorry, Cripps/ said the wretched boy;*I
didn't mean to. hurt him, but he — '

* Oh ! you won't go, won't you ? Very good ! we'll see
if we can make you ; ' and Cripps departed from the bar,
leaving his young 'patron' in anything but a comfortable
frame of mind.

For once in a way, however, Loman was roused, and
would not go. The boy — miserable specimen as he was —
had some courage in him, and when once goaded up to
the proper pitch it came out If he went, he argued to
himself, Cripps would certainly come up to St. Dominic's
after him. If he waited till the police or some of the

roughs came and ejected him he could not be much worse
off; and there was a chance that, by remaining, he might
still be able to pacify his evil genius.

So he stayed. Another quarter of an hour passed ; no
one came to turn him out. A few customers came into
the bar and were served by the sulky potboy, but there was
no sign of Cripps.

'Go and tell your master I'm here still, and want to see
him particularly,' said Loman, presently, to the boy.

The boy looked up and scowled and rubbed his ear, but
somehow that timely blow of Loman's had wrought wonders
with his spirit, for he quietly went off and did as he was

bid.

In a few minutes he came back and delivered the laconic

message,

A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 329

* You're got to wait.'

This was satisfactory as far as it went. Loman did wait,
simmering inwardly all the time, and not wholly losing
his desperation before once again Cripps appeared and
beckoned him inside.

'Here's the rest of the money,' said Loman, hurriedly.
'You can give me back the bill now, Cripps.'

Cripps took up the money, counted it and pocketed it,
and then turned on his victim with an impudent smile.

'Give me the bill,' repeated Loman, suddenly turning
pale with the dreadful misgiving that after all he had not
got rid of the blackguard.

'What do you want the bill for?' asked Cripps, laughing.

' Want it for? Why, Cripps — ' and here Loman stopped

short.

' Fire away,' said Cripps.

' I've paid you all I owe/ said Loman, trembling.

' What if you have ? '

' Then give me back that bill ! '

Cripps only laughed — a laugh which drove the boy
frantic. The villain was going to play him false after all.
He had got the money, every farthing of it, and now he
was going to retain the bill which contained Loman's prom-
ise to pay the whole amount ! Poor Loman, he was no
match in cunning for this rogue • Who would believe him
that he had paid, when Cripps was still able to produce the
promise signed with his own name to do so ?

Bitterly did the boy repent the day when first, by a
yielding to deceit, he had put himself in the power of such
a villain !

He was too confounded and panic-struck to attempt
either argument or persuasion. He felt himself ruined, and
muttering, in a voice which trembled with misery,

'I must tell father all about it,' he turned to go.

Oh, Loman ! Why have you left such a resolve till now ?
Why, like that other prodigal, have you waited till every-

330 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST DOMINIC S.

thing else has failed, till your own resources and cunning
have been exhausted to the last dregs, before you turn and
say this !

The boy uttered the words involuntarily, not intending
that they should be heard. Little he thought Cripps or
any one would heed them. But Cripps did heed them.
His quick ear caught the words, and they had a meaning
for him ; for he might be able to cheat and browbeat and
swindle a boy, but when it came to dealing no longer with
the boy, but with the boy's father, Cripps was sharp enough
to know that was a very different matter. He had relied
on the boy's fears of exposure and his dread of his father's
anger to carry his extortions to the utmost limit with confi-
dence. But now he had gone a step too far. When, in his
desperation, the boy naturally turned to the very being he
had all along most carefully kept ignorant of his proceed-
ings, it was time for Cripps to pull up.

He stopped Loman as he was going away, with a laugh,
as he said, in his old tones,

' Steady there, young gentleman, what a hurry you are
in ! A man can't have a little bit of fun, just to see how

you like it, but there you go, and give it all up, and go and
get yourself into a regular perspiration ! Tell the governor,
indeed ! You don't suppose I'd let you get yourself into
such a mess as all that, do you ? No, no. You shall have
the bill, my man, never fear."

( Oh, thank you, Cripps, thank you ! ' cried Loman, in a
sudden convulsion of gratitude and relief. '

' Ton my word, I might take offence, that I might, at
your wanting the paper. As if Fd ever take advantage of a
young gentleman like you! No, no; honesty's the best
policy for us poor folks as well as for you nobs. No one
can say I defrauded any one.'

' Oh, no, of course not,' cried Loman, enthusiastically.
* I should like to see any one who did ! '

Mr. Cripps, smiling sweetly and modestly, went to his

A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 331

cupboard, and after a good deal of fumbling and search,
produced the little slip of blue paper he was looking for.

4 Is that it ? ' cried the excited Loman.

' Looks like it,' said Cripps, unfolding it and reading out.
with his back to the boy, ' " Three months after date I
promise to pay George Cripps thirty-five pounds, value
received. Signed, E. Loman." That's about it, eh, young
gentleman ? Well, blessed if I ain't a soft-hearted chap
after the doing you've given me over this here business.
Look here ; here goes.'

And so saying, Mr. Cripps first tore the paper up into
little bits, and then threw the whole into the fire before the
eyes of the delighted Loman.

' Thanks, Cripps, thanks/ said the boy. ' I am so glad
everything's settled now, and I am so sorry to have kept
you waiting so long.'

'Oh, well, as long as it's been an obligement to you, I
don't so much care,' said the virtuous Cripps. 'And now
you've done with me I suppose you'll cut me dead, eh,
young gentleman ? Just the way. You stick to us as long
as you can get anything out of us, and then we're nobodies.'

And here Mr. Cripps looked very dejected.

' Oh, no,' said Loman, 'I don't mean to cut you, Cripps.
I shall come down now and then — really I will— when I
can manage it. Good-bye now.'

And he held out his hand.

Foolish and wicked as Loman was, there was still left in
him some of that boyish generosity which makes one ready
to forget injuries and quick to acknowledge a good turn.
Loman forgot for a moment all the hideous past, with its
suspense and humiliations and miseries, and remembered
only that Cripps had torn up the bill and allowed him to
clear off accounts once for all at the hated Cockchafer.
Alas ! he had forgotten, too, about telling all to his father !

'Good-day, young gentleman,' said Cripps, with a pen-
sive face which made the boy quite sorry to see.

332 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

He shook hands cordially and gratefully, and departed
lighter in heart than he had felt for some time.

But as he returned to St. Dominic's the thought of
Oliver, and of his debt to him, returned, and turned again
all his satisfaction into vexation. He wished he had the
money that moment to fling back into the fellow's face !

I don't pretend to explain this whim of Loman's. It may
have been his conscience which prompted it. For a mean
person nearly always detests an honest one, and the more
open and generous the one is, the meaner the other feels in
his own heart by contrast.

However, for some days Loman had not the painful re-
minder of his debt often before his eyes; for as long as the
Doctor was absent Oliver remained in the Fifth.

At length, however, the head master returned, restored
and well, and immediately the ' removes ' were put into
force, and Oliver and Wraysford found themselves duly in-
stalled on the lowest bench of the Sixth — the only other
occupant of which was Loman. The two friends, however,
held very little intercourse with their new class-fellow, and
Oliver never once referred to the eight pobnds; and, like
every one and everything else, Loman grew accustomed to
the idea of being his rival's debtor, and, as the days went on,

ceased to be greatly troubled by the fact at all.

But an event happened one day, shortly after the Doctor's
return, which gave every one something else to think about
besides loans and debtors.

It was the morning of the day fixed for the great football
match against the County, and every one, even the Sixth and
Fifth, chafed somewhat at the two hours appointed on such
a day for so mundane an occupation as lessons.

Who could think of lessons when any minute the County
men might turn up ? Who could be bothered with dactyls
and spondees when goal-posts and touch-lines were far more
to the point ? And who could be expected to fix his mind
on hexameters and elegiacs when the height of human per-

A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 333

fection lay in a straight drop-kick or a fast double past the
enemy's half-backs ? However, the Doctor had made up his
mind Latin verses should get their share of attention that
morning, and the two head forms were compelled to submit
as best they could.

Now, on this occasion, the Doctor was specially interested
in the subject in hand, and waxed more than usually elo-
quent over the comparative beauties of Horace and Virgil
and Ovid, and went into the minutest details about their
metres. Over one line which contained what seemed to be
a false quantity he really became excited.

'It is a most remarkable thing, and I am really pleased
we have fallen on the passage/ said he, * that this identical
mistake, if it is a mistake, occurs in a line of Juvenal ; it is
in the — dear me, I have forgotten how it begins ! Has any
one here a Juvenal ? '

' I have one in my study, sir/ said Loman. (Juvenal had
been one of the Latin subjects for the Nightingale.)

' Ah ! Would you fetch it, Loman, please ? I think I

know precisely where the line occurs/

Loman rose and went for the book, which he found upon
his bookcase, enjoying a dignified and dusty repose on the
top shelf. Carefully brushing off the dust, so as to give the
volume a rather less unused look, he returned with it to the
class-room, and handed it to the Doctor.

'Thank you, Loman. Now, it is in the Fourth — no, the
Fifth Satire/ said he, turning over the pages. ' Let me see
yes, not far from — ah ! '

This last exclamation was uttered in a voice which made
every boy in the room look suddenly up and fix his eyes on
the Doctor. It was evidently something more than an ex-
clamation of recognition on finding the desired passage.
There was too much surprise and too much pain in the word
for that.

Was the Doctor ill ? He closed the book and sat back
in his chair in a sort of bewilderment. Then suddenly, and

334 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

with an evident effort, recovering himself, he let his eyes
once more rest on the closed Juvenal.

' Loman,' he said, * will you come and find the passage
for me ? Turn to the Fifth Satire.'

Loman obeyed, much wondering, notwithstanding, why
the Doctor should ask him, of all people, to come up and
turn to the passage.

He advanced to the head master's desk and took up the
Juvenal.

( The Fifth Satire/ repeated the Doctor, keeping his eyes
on the book.

Certainly the Doctor was very queer this morning. One
would suppose his life depended on the discovery of that
unlucky line, so keenly he watched Loman as he turned
over the pages.

Was the book bewitched? Loman, as he held it, sud-
denly turned deadly white, and closed it quickly, as if
between the leaves there lay a scorpion ! Then again,
seeing the Doctor's eye fixed on him, he opened it, and,
with faltering voice, began to read the line.

( That will do. Hand me the book, Loman.'

The Doctor's voice, as he uttered these words, was
strangely solemn.

Loman hurriedly took a paper from between the leaves
and handed the book to the Doctor.

( Hand me that paper, Loman ! *

Loman hesitated.

1 Obey me, Loman ! '

Loman looked once at the Doctor, and once at the
Juvenal ; then, with a groan, he flung the paper down on to
the desk.

The Doctor took it up.

' This paper,' said he, slowly, and in an agitated voice —
( this paper is the missing paper of questions for the
Nightingale Scholarship last term. Loman, remain here,
please. The other boys may go.'

( 335 )

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY.

THE boys, astounded and bewildered by this unexpected
revelation, slowly rose to obey the Doctor's order,
leaving Loman alone with the head-master.

The boy was ashy pale as Dr. Senior turned to him and
said, solemnly —

1 How do you account for this, Loman ? '

Loman lowered his eyes and made no reply.

'Answer me please, Loman. Can you account for this?'

'No/

* Did you ever see this paper before ? '
'No.'

' Do you know how it came into your Juvenal ? *
'No/

' Did you know anything at all about the lost paper ? '
'No.'

The Doctor looked long and searchingly at him as he
said once more —

* Loman, are you sure you are telling me the truth ? You
know nothing whatever about the paper — never saw it
before this moment ? '

'No/

' You knew the paper had been missed off my desk? '

' Yes/

* Had you the least reason for believing any boy took it?'

Loman hesitated.

336 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. D0MIN1CS.

' I would rather not say/ he said at last.

' You must please answer me frankly, Loman. Had you
any reason, I ask, for believing any boy took the paper ?'

' Must I say ? ' asked Loman.

' Yes — you must/

1 Well, then, I did fancy some one had taken it.'

4 Who ? '

( Greenfield senior/ said Loman, flushing quickly as he
said the name.

' And what made you suspect Greenfield senior ? '

1 All the boys suspected him.'

' That is not an answer, Loman. Why ? '

' Because, for one thing/ said Loman, sullenly, ' he was
seen coming out of your study that evening.'

' And why else ? '

' Because he came out so high in the exam/

* And for these reasons you suspected Greenfield of taking
the paper ? Why did you not mention the matter to me ? '

Loman did his best to look virtuous.

' I did not wish to get any one into trouble/

* And you preferred to let an affair like this go on with-
out taking any steps to have it cleared up ? Did Greenfield
deny the charge ? '

'No/

'Did he admit it ?'

' Very nearly. He wouldn't speak to any one for months.'
i And you really believe that Greenfield took the paper ? '
Loman looked up at the Doctor for a moment and
answered,
< Yes.'
' Did you lend him your Juvenal at any time?'

* Not that I remember.'

* Do you suppose he put the paper in the book ? '
1 1 couldn't say ; but I don't see who else could/

' That will do, Loman ; you can go. Kindly leave the
paper and the Juvenal with me/

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY. 337

Loman turned to go, but the Doctor stopped him with
one more question.

' You know, I suppose, that the questions which you
actually had set for the Nightingale examination were quite
different from those on the paper?'

'Yes,' said Loman. 'I mean — that is/ he added, stam-
mering, and taking up the paper in question. ' I see by
this paper they were quite different.'

'Yes ; you can go now, Loman.'

There was something so solemn and hard in the head-
master's voice as he dismissed the boy that Loman felt
very uncomfortable as he slowly departed to his own
study.

He, at any rate, was in no humour for enjoying the big
football match which was just beginning.

And it must be confessed the event of the morning had
had the effect of disconcerting a good many more than
himself. Stansfield had quite hard work going round among
his troops and rousing them once more to the proper pitch
of enthusiasm.

'What — whatever does it matter/ he said, 'if the fellow
did take it ? You didn't take it, Winter, or you, Wren ; and
what on earth's the use of getting down in the mouth, and
perhaps losing the match, because of it? We're always
having our football spoiled by something or other/ he added
with a groan. ' I'll tell you what it is, let's only lick these
fellows this afternoon, and then I'll howl and groan and do
anything you like, for a week/

There was no resisting such a generous offer. The fellows
made up their minds to forget everything else that afternoon
but the County, and so to play that the County should have
some difficulty in soon forgetting them.

' Fire away, you fellows, and peel ! ' cried Stansfield, as
Oliver and Wraysford sauntered past.

They fired away. But while dressing they exchanged a
few words on the forbidden subject.

338 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST DOMINICS.

' Did you ever expect it would be brought home to Loman
like this, Noll ? * asked Wray.

' No, I didn't. And yet in a way — '

' Eh ? What do you say ? '

( Why, Wray, you remember me saying that evening, after
I left the study, the only fellow I met in the passage besides
Simon was Loman ? '

'Yes ; so you did.'

' He was going towards the Doctor's study/ said Oliver.

'Hum ! I remember now you said so.'

'And yet, 7 continued Oliver, plunging into his jersey-

'and yet I can't see how, if he did take the paper,
he didn't do better in the exam. He came out so very
low.'

' Yes, that's queer, unless he took a fit of repentance all
of a sudden, and didn't^look at it.'

'Then it's queer he didn't destroy it, instead of sticking
it in his Juvenal.'

' Well, I suppose the Doctor will clear it up, now he's on
the scent.'

' I suppose so,' said Oliver ; * but, I say, old man,' he
added, ' of course there's no need for us to say anything
about it to anybody. The poor beggar doesn't want our
help to get him into trouble. 1

' No, indeed. I'd be as glad, quite, if it were found to
be another wrong scent, after all,' said Wraysford. ' The
fellow's in a bad enough way as it is.'

' Are you nearly ready, you two ? ' thundered Stansfield
at the door.

* Just ready ! ' they exclaimed ; and in another minute
they, too, had dismissed from their minds everything but
St. Dominic's v. County, as they trotted off to join the rest
of their comrades on the field of battle.

And, indeed, for the next two hours there was no
opportunity, even, had they desired it, for any one to think
of anything but this momentous struggle.

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY. 339

For three years running the County had beaten the
schoolboys, each time worse than before, until at last the
latter had got to be afraid the others would begin to think
them foemen not worthy of their steel. This year they
hardly dared hope a better fate than before, for the enemy
were down in force. Yet the boys had determined to die
hard, and at least give their adversaries all the trouble they
could before their goal should fall; and of this they were
all the more sanguine, because their team was the very best
the school could muster, and not a man among them but
knew his business, and could be depended on to do it
too.

Bad luck ! Of course, just when it's not wanted there's
a breeze got up, blowing right down the field, and in the
very teeth of the schoolboys, who have lost the toss, and
have to play from the oak-tree end for the first half of
the game !

( It's always the way,' growls Ricketts. ' They'll simply
eat us up while they've got the chance, you see ! '

' No they won't/ says Stansfield, bound to take a cheer-
ful view of things. * We're strong in backs. It's not like
last match, when Greenfield wasn't playing, and Loman was
there to make such a mess of it.'

' Well, it's a comfort, that, anyhow.'

i Of course it is/ says the captain. ' What you fellows
have got to do is to keep the ball in close, and nurse it
along all the while, or else run — but you'd better let the
quarter-backs do that.'

This sage advice is not thrown away on the worthies who
lead the van for St. Dominic's, and an opportunity for
putting it into practice occurs the moment the game
begins. For the School has to kick off, and to kick
off against that wind is a hopeless business. Stansfield
does not attempt anything like a big kicjc, but just
drives the ball hard and low on to the legs of the County
forwards, sending his own men close after it, so that a

340 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

scrimmage is formed almost at the very spot where the ball
grounds.

'Now, School, sit on it! Do you hear?' calls out the
captain ; and certainly it looks as if that unhappy ball were
never destined to see the light again. The enemy's forwards
cannot get it out from among the feet of the School for-
wards, try all they will, until, by sheer weight, they simply
force it through. And then, when it does go through, there
is young Forrester of the Fourth ready for it, and next
moment it is back in its old place in the middle of the
'mush.' In due time, out it comes again — this time on
Wren's side — and once again, after a short run, there it is
again, on almost the identical spot of earth where it has
undergone its last two poundings.

' Played up, Dominies ! ' cries out Stansfield, cheerily.
' Stick to it now ! '

Stick to it they do, with the wind fresh on their faces,
and the County fellows charging and plunging and shoving
like fury upon them.

Ah ! there goes the ball, out at the County end for a
wonder. The spectators cheer loudly for the schoolboys.
Little they know ! It had much better have stayed there
among their feet than roll out into the open. The County
quarter-back has it in his hands in a twinkling, and in
another twinkling he has lifted it with a drop-kick high
into the air, all along the wind, which carries it, amid
cheers and shouts, right up to the boundary of the School
goal

So much for cutting through the scrimmage !

Wraysford, the Dominican ' back, 1 is ready for it when it
drops, and, without touching-down, runs out with it. He is
a cautious fellow, is Wraysford, and does not often try this
game. But the ball has far outstripped the enemy's for-
wards, and so he has a pretty open field. But not for long.
In a few seconds the County is upon him, and he and the
ball are no longer visible. Then follow a lot more scrim-

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY. 341

mages, with similar results. It is awfully slow for the
spectators, but Stansfield rejoices over it, and the County
men chafe.

' Can't you let it out there ? Play looser, and let it
through/ says their captain.

Loose it is.

'That's better!' says the County captain, as presently
the ball comes out with a bound full into the quarter-back's
hands, who holds it, and, to the horror of the boys, makes
his mark before he can be collared.

The scrimmage has been near up to the Dominican goal
— within a kick — and now, as the schoolboys look round
first at the goal and then at the County man with the ball,
the distance looks painfully small. And even if it were
greater, this wind would do the business.

The County man takes plenty of room back from his
mark, up to which the School forwards stand ready for one
desperate rush the moment the ball touches the ground.
Alas, it is no go ! They have a knowing hand and a
quick foot to deal with. Before they can cover the few
yards which divide them, the ball is dropped beauti-
fully, and flies, straight as an arrow, over the cross-bar,
amid the tremendous cheers of the County men and
their friends.

( Never mind ! ' says Stansfield, as his men walk out once
more to the fray, 'they sha'n't get another before half-
time ! '

Won't they? Such is the perversity of that creature
people call Luck, and such is the hatred it has for anything
like a boast, that two minutes— only two minutes — after the
words are out of the captain's mouth another Dominican
goal has fallen.

For Stansfield in kicking off gets his foot too much under
the ball, which consequently rises against the wind and
presents an easy catch to any one who comes out to take
it. A County forward sees his chance. Rushing up, he

342 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS.

catches the ball, and instantaneously, so it seems, drop-
kicks it, a tremendous kick clean over the School goal,
before even the players have all taken up their places after
the last catastrophe.

This is dreadful ! worse than ever ! Never in their worst
days had such a thing happened. For once in a way
Stansfield's hopefulness deserts him, and he feels the School
is in for an out-and-out hiding.

The captain would like extremely to blow some one up,
if he only knew whom. It is so aggravating sometimes to
have no one to blow up. Nothing relieves the feelings so,
does it ?

However, Stansfield has to bottle up his feelings, and,

4

behold ! once more he and his men are in battle array.

This time it's steady all again, and the ball is kept well
out of sight. It can't even slip out behind now, as before ;
for the School quarter-backs are up to that dodge, and ready
to pounce upon it before it can be lifted or sent flying. In-
deed, the only chance the wretched ball has of seeing
daylight is —

Hullo! half-time!

The announcement falls on joyful ears among the
Dominicans. They have worked hard and patiently
against heavy odds ; and they feel they really deserve this
respite.

Now, at last, if the wind wouldn't change for them, they
have changed over to the wind, which blows no longer in
their faces, but gratefully on to their backs.

The kick-off is a positive luxury under such circum-
stances ; Stansfield needn't be afraid of skying the ball now,
and he isn't. It shoots up with a prodigious swoop and
soars right away to touch-line, so that the County's ' back '
is the first of their men to go into action. He brings the
ball back deftly and prettily, slipping in and out among his
own men, who get beside him as a sort of bodyguard, ready
at any moment to carry on the ball. It is ludicrous to see

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY. 343

Ricketts and Winter and Callonby flounder about after
him. The fellow is like an eel. One moment you have
him, the next he's away ; now you're sure of him, now
he's out of all reach. Ah ! Stansfield's got him at last !
No he hasn't ; but Winter has — No, Winter has lost him ;

and — just look — he's past all the School forwards, no one
can say how.

Young Forrester tackles him gamely — but young Forrester
is no hand at eel-catching; in fact, the eel catches Forrester,
and leaves him gracefully on his back. Past the quarter-
backs ! The man has a charmed life !

Ah ! Greenfield has got him at last. Yes, Mr. Eel, you
may wriggle as hard as you like, but you'd hardly find your
way out of that grip without leave !

Altogether this is a fine run, and makes the School see

that even with the wind they are not going to have it

all their own way. However, they warm up wonderfully

after this.

Steady is still the word (what grand play we should get

if it were always the. word at football, you schoolboys!
You may kick and run and scrimmage splendidly, but you
are not steady — but this is digression). Steady is still the
word, and every minute St. Dominic's pulls better together.
The forwards work like one man, and, lighter weight though
they are, command the scrimmages by reason of their good
' packing.'

Wren and young Forrester, the quarter-backs, are ( dead
on ' the ball the moment it peeps out from the scrimmage;
and behind them at half-back Oliver and Bullinger are not
missing a chance. If they did, Wraysford is behind them,
a prince of ' backs.'

Oh, for a chance to put this fine machinery into motion !
Time is flying, and the umpire is already fidgeting with his
watch. Oh, for one chance ! And while we speak here it
comes. A County man has just darted up along the touch-
line half the length of the field. Wren goes out to meet

344 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM I NIC S,

him, and behind Wren — too close behind— advances Oliver.
The County man thinks twice before delivering himself up
into the clutches of one of these heroes, and ends his run
with a kick, which, Oliver being not in his place, Wraysford
runs forward to take. Now Wraysford has hardly had a
run this afternoon. He means to have one now ! And he
does have one. He takes the ball flying, gives one hurried
look round, and then makes right for the thick of the fray.
Who backs him up ? Greenfield for one, and all the rest of
St. Dominic's for the other.

' Stick close ! ' he says to Oliver, as he flies past. Oliver
wants no bidding. He follows his man like a shadow. In
and out among the forwards, and round about past the
quarter-backs ; and when at last Wraysford is borne down
by a combined force of half and three-quarter backs,
Greenfield is there to take the ball on.

' Look out there ! ' cries the County captain, ' mark that

man.' The County does mark that man, and they have the
painful task of marking him pass one half-back and floor
another before he is arrested.

* I'm here!' cries Wraysford's voice at that moment;
and next instant the ball is again hurrying on towards the
County goal in Wraysford's arms, Greenfield once more
being in close attendance.

And now the County backs come into action, and the
first of them collars Wraysford. But it is Oliver who collars
the ball, and amid the shouts, and howls, and cheers of
players and spectators rushes it still onward. The second
' back ' is the County's only remaining hope, nor surely will
he fail. He rushes at Oliver. Oliver rushes at him.
Wraysford, once more on his feet, rushes on them both.

' Look out for the ball there ! ' is the panic cry of the
County. Ay, look indeed ! Oliver is down, but Wrays-
ford has it, and walks with it merrily over the County's
goal-line, and deposits it on the ground in the exact centre
of the posts.

THE MATCH AGAINST THE COUNTY. 345

' There never was such a rush up, or such a pretty piece
of double play/ say the knowing ones among the onlookers ;
and when a minute later the ball is brought out, and Stans-
fleld kicks it beautifully over the goal, every one says that it
is one of the best-earned goals that old meadow has ever
seen kicked, and that St. Dominic's, though beaten, has
nothing in that day's performance to be ashamed of.

( 346)

CHAPTER XXXV.

A VOCAL, INSTRUMENTAL, AND DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT

IN THE FOURTH JUNIOR.

1 OW among those who were present to witness the
famous * rush-up ' of Greenfield senior and Wrays-
ford, which ended in the fall of the County goal, was one
boy who showed very little enthusiasm over the achieve-
ment, or very little delight at the glory which the school
thereby derived.

Loman, who, unable to sit in his study, and not knowing
what else to do, had wandered almost instinctively to the
meadow, found himself on this particular afternoon one of
the most miserable boys in St. Dominic's.

Two years ago, when he first entered the school, he was
popular with his fellows and voted an acquisition on the
cricket-ground and football-field whenever the youth of
St. Dominic's strove in emulation against their rivals. He
could remember a time when fellows strolled arm-in-arm
with him down to the matches ; when the small boys looked
quite meek in his presence, and the masters gave a friendly
nod in answer to his salutes. That was when he was quite
new at St. Dominic's ; but how changed now ! This after-
noon, for instance, as he stood looking on, he had the
cheerful knowledge that not a boy in all that assembly cared
two straws about him. Why wasn't he playing in the match?
Why did the fellows, as they came near him, look straight
in front of them, or go round to avoid him ? Why did the

THE FOURTH JUNIOR ENTERTAINMENT 347

Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles strut about and crack their
vulgar jokes right under his very nose, as if he was nobody ?
Alas, Loman ! something's been wrong with you for the last
year or thereabouts ; and if we don't all know the cause,
we can see the effect For it is a fact, you are nobody in
the eyes of St. Dominic's at the present time.

However, he was destined to become a somebody pretty
soon ; and, indeed, as soon as the football match was over,
and the supper after it was disposed of, and the Guinea-pigs
and Tadpoles (who, you know, had selected this same after-
noon for their great football match) had ceased their rows in
slumber, every one's mind, at least the mind of every one in
the two head forms, turned naturally to the strange and
mysterious event of the morning. What various conclu-
sions they came. to it is not for me to set down here. They
probably came to as good a conclusion as the reader has
done, and waited impatiently to have the whole thing
cleared up.

And it looked as if the Doctor were about to do this
next morning, for he summoned together the Fifth and
Sixth, and thus solemnly addressed them : —

' Before we begin the lesson for the day, boys, I wish
to refer to an incident that happened here yesterday morn-
ing, which must be fresh in your memories. I mean the
accidental discovery of the lost examination paper for the
Nightingale Scholarship. I hope you will not draw hasty
conclusions from what then occurred. The boy in whose
book the paper was found is present here, and has assured
me on his honour he never saw the paper before, and is quite
ignorant how it came into his book. That is so, Loman ? '

' Yes, sir/ replied Loman.

' When a boy makes a statement to me on his honour, I
accept it as such/ said the Doctor, very gravely, and looking
hard at the boy. ' I accept it as such — '

Loman sat motionless with his eyes on the desk before
him.

348 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

' But,' went on the Doctor, turning again to the boys,
* before I dismiss the subject I must do justice to one among
you who I find, much to my pain, has been an object of
suspicion in connection with this same lost paper. Green-
field senior, I have no hesitation in saying, is perfectly clear
of any such imputation as that you put upon him. I may
say in his presence I believe him to be incapable of a fraudu-
lent and mean act ; and further than that, you boys will be
interested to hear that the questions which he answered so
brilliantly in that examination were not the questions which
appeared on the lost paper at all, but an entirely new set,
which for my own satisfaction I drew up on the morning of
examination itself.'

This announcement did interest every one — the Fifth
particularly, who felt their own humiliation now fourfold as
they looked at Oliver, and thought of what their conduct to
him had been.

It interested Oliver and Wraysford as much as any one,
but for a different reason. Supposing Loman had taken the
paper — this was the reflection which darted through both
their minds — supposing Loman had taken the paper and
worked up the answers from it, might not the sudden change
of questions described by the Doctor account for the low
place he had taken in the exam. ?

Altogether the Doctor's speech left things (except as con-
cerned Oliver) not much more satisfactory than before.
The natural impulse of everybody was to suspect Loman.
But, then, six months ago the natural impulse had been
equally as strong to suspect Oliver, and — well, that had
somehow turned out a bad ' spec/ and so might this.

So St. Dominic's really didn't know what to think, and
settled down to the work of the term in an uneasy frame of
mind, wishing something would turn up, to end the
wretched affair of the lost paper definitely one way or
another.

Of course the report of the new state of affairs soon pene-

THE FOURTH JUNIOR ENTERTAINMENT. 349

trated down to the lower school, and the Guinea-pigs and
Tadpoles at any rate were not slow in making up their
minds on the burning question.

They turned out in a body and hooted Loman up and
down the passages with as much, if not more, glee than some
of them had lately hooted Oliver. ' Yah, boo ! Who stole
the exam, paper? — there ! old Loman.' Such were the cries
which presently became familiar in the school, until one
day Mr. Rastle dropped down on some twenty of the
( howlers,' and set them each twelve propositions of Euclid
to learn by heart, and two hours a-piece in the detention-
room, there to meditate over their evil ways.

The quiet of the lower school during the next week was
something delicious.

The tyrannical proceeding on the part of Mr. Rastle pro-
voked bitter indignation, of course, in the breasts k of the
culprits. Why weren't they to be allowed to express their
feelings ? And if Rastle did want to ( pot ' them, why should
he give them Euclid to learn, when he knew perfectly well
Euclid was the very thing not one of them could learn by
heart ? And if he did want to detain them, why ever should
he fix on the identical week in which the grand ' Vocal,
Instrumental, and Dramatic Entertainment ' of the Fourth
Junior was due to come off.

It was an abominable piece of spite, that was a fact ; and
Mr. Rastle was solemnly condemned one evening in the
dormitory to be blown up with dynamite at the first con-
venient opportunity. Meanwhile, come what would, the
( Vocal, Instrumental, and Dramatic Entertainment ' should
come off, if it cost every man Jack of the 'entertainers ' his

head.

Stephen, who by this rime was a person of authority in his

class, was appointed president of the ( V. I. and D. Society.'
The manner of his election to this honourable office had
been peculiar, but. emphatic. He had been proposed by
Paul and seconded by himself in a short but elegant speech,

35o THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

in which he asserted he would only serve if his appointment
was unanimous. It was unanimous, for directly after this
magnanimous statement he and Paul and a few others pro-
ceeded summarily to eject Bramble, Padger, and others who
showed signs of opposition ; and then, locking the door,
proceeded to an immediate vote, which, amid loud Guinea-
pig cheers, was declared to be unanimous, one contuma-
cious Tadpole, who had escaped notice, having his hands
held down by his sides during the ceremony. As soon as.
the doors were open, Bramble, who had meanwhile collected
a large muster of adherents, rushed in, and, turning out all
the Guinea-pigs, had himself elected treasurer, and Padger
honorary secretary. These exciting appointments having
been made, the meeting was ' thrown open/ a programme
was drawn up, and the preparations were in a very forward
state when the sad interruption occasioned by Mr. Rastle's
brutal conduct took place. But if Mr. Rastle thought he
was going to extinguish the ' Vocal, Instrumental, and -Dra-
matic Entertainment ' he was woefully mistaken.

As soon as ever, by superhuman exertions, Bramble and
a few others of the ' potted ' ones had struggled through
their Euclid, and served their term of detention, an evening
was fixed upon for the great event to come off.

Immediately a question arose. Should the public be
admitted ?

* Rather ! ' exclaimed Bramble, the treasurer, ' five bob
each/

' Masters half price,' suggested Padger.

' Greenfield senior free ! ' shouted the loyal Paul.

' Bah ! do you think Greenfield senior would come to
hear you spout, you young muff ! ' roared the amiable
Bramble.

' I know what he would come for,' retorted Paul, ' and
I'd come with him too. Guess ! '

' Sha'n't guess. Shall I, Padger?'

' May as well,' suggested Padger.

THE FOURTH JUNIOR ENTERTAINMENT. 351

' He'd come/ cried Paul, not waiting for the Tadpole to
guess — * he'd come a mile to see you hung. So would I —
there ! '

It was some time before the meeting got back to the
subject of admitting the public. But it was finally agreed
that, though the public were not to be invited, the door
should be left open, and any one ('presenting his card,'
young Bilbury suggested) might come in, with the exception
of Loman, Mr. Rastle, Tom Braddy, and the school cat.

For the next few days the Guinea-pigs and Tadpoles
were busy, learning their parts, practising their songs,
arranging all the details of their dramatic performance, and
so on ; and Mr. Rastle had to * pot ' one or two more of
them, and detain one or two others, before he could get
anything like the ordinary work of the class done. All this
the young vocal, instrumental, and dramatic enthusiasts
bore patiently, devoting so many extra ounces of dynamite

to Mr. Rastle's promised blow-up for each offence.

At last the festival day arrived. Stephen, on whom,

somehow, all the work had devolved, while the talking
and discussion of knotty points had fallen on his two

brother officers, looked quite pale and anxious on the
eventful morning.

1 Well, young 'un/ said Oliver, ' I suppose Wray and I
are to be allowed to come and see the fun to-night'

'Yes/ said Stephen, with considerable misgivings about
the ' fun.'

'All serene; we'll be there, won't we, Wray? Not the
first Guinea-pig kick-up we've been witness to, either.'

'Do you think Pembury will come?' asked Stephen,
nervously.

' Oh, rather. He'll have to report it in the next Domin-
ican. I'll see he comes.'

' Oh, I think he needn't mind/ said Stephen, with a
queer shyness ; ' I could write out a report for him.'

'Oh, I dare say; a nice report that would be. No

352 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

Tony must be there. He wouldn't miss it for a five-pound
note.'

Stephen retired to report these rather alarming prospects
of an audience to his comrades.

* Talking of five-pound notes/ said Wraysford, after he
had gone, ' does Loman ever mean to pay up that £& ? '

' I don't know ; it doesn't look like it,' said Oliver. ' The
fact is, he came to me yesterday to borrow another pound
for something or another. He said Cripps had been up
to the school and tried to make out that there was another
owing, and had threatened, unless he got it, at once to
speak to the head-master.'

' Did you lend it him? ' said Wraysford. ( It's a regular

swindle.'

' I hadn't got it to lend. I told him I was sure the fellow
was a thief, and advised him to tell the Doctor.'

'What did he say?'

'Oh, he got in an awful state, and said he would get
into no end of a row, and wouldn't for the world have the
Doctor know a word of it.'

' I don't like it at all/ said Wraysford. ( Don't you have
more to do than you can help with that business, Noll, old

man.'

* But the poor beggar seems regularly at his wits' end.'

1 Never mind ; you'll do him and yourself no good by
lending him money.'

' Well, I haven't done so, for a very good reason, as I
tell you. But I'm sorry for him. I do believe he can't
see that he's being fleeced. He made me promise not to
utter a word of it to the Doctor, so I really don't know how
to help him.'

' It's my impression he's good reason to be afraid of the
Doctor just now/ said Wraysford. 'That Nightingale busi-
ness has yet to be cleared up.'

The two friends pursued this disagreeable topic no farther,
but agreed, for all Loman wasn't a nice boy, and for all they

THE FOURTH JUNIOR ENTERTAINMENT. 35

*■>

had neither of them much cause to love him, they would
see the next day if they could not do something to help
him in his difficulty. Meanwhile they gave themselves over
to the pure and refined enjoyment of the ' Vocal, Instru-
mental, and Dramatic Entertainment. 7

At seven that evening, after tea, the Fourth Junior room
became a centre of attraction to all St. Dominic's. Fellows
from the Sixth and Fifth, always ready for novelty in the
way of amusement, looked in to see the sport. The Fourth
Senior grandly condescended to witness the vulgar exploits
of their juniors, and the other classes were most of them
represented by one or more spectators.

The programme had been carefully got up. Stephen
took the chair solemnly at the appointed hour, and with a
great deal of stammering announced that the proceedings
were now about to commence, and then sat down. An
awful pause ensued. At first it was borne with interest, then
with impatience ; then, when Stephen began to whisper to
Paul, and Paul began to signal to Bramble, and Bramble
gesticulated in dumb show at Padger, and all four whispered
together, and finally looked very gravely in an opposite
direction to the audience, then they began to be amused.

'Oh,' said Stephen, very red, turning round abruptly after
this awkward pause had continued for a minute or two—
'oh, that was wrong; he doesn't begin, and the other
fellow's away. Look here, Bramble, do your thing now.'

' No, I can't/ whispered Bramble in an audible voice.
* I've forgotten the first line.'

'Something about a kid asleep,' suggested Padger, also
audibly.

'Oh, yes/ said Bramble, starting up and blushing very
red as he began.

' " Lines on Seeing my Wife and Two Children Asleep " — ■

Hood.'

This modest announcement of his subject was over-
whelming in itself, and was greeted with such yells of

354 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINICS,

laughter that the poor elocutionist found it utterly impos-
sible to go on. He tried once or twice, but never got
beyond the first half line.

' And has the earth — ' and here he stuck, but in answer

to the cheers began again, looking round for Padger to help.
'And has the earth — (Go it, Padger, give a fellow a leg

up, can't you ?) '

' I can't find the place/ said Padger, very hot and flurried,

and whipping over the pages of a book with his moist thumb.
'And has the earth — (Look in the index, you lout ! Oh,

won't I give it to you afterwards!)' once more began the
wretched Bramble. He got no farther. Even had he re-
membered the words his voice could never have risen above
the laughter, which continued as long as he remained on
his feet.

He retired at length in dudgeon, and Stephen called on
Paul for a song. This went off better, only everybody
stamped the time with his feet, so that the singer could
neither be heard for the row nor seen for the dust. After
that followed another *' reading.' This time the subject was
a humorous one — * Ben Battle,' by T. Hood. Every one,
by the way, chose Hood. It was the only poetry-book to
be had in the Fourth Junior. The reading progressed
satisfactorily for the first two lines — indeed, until a joke
occurred, and here the reader was so overcome with the
humour of the thing that he broke into a laugh, and every
time he tried to begin the next line he laughed before he
could get it out, until at last it got to be quite as monotonous
as watching the hyena at the Zoological Gardens. Finally
he did get through the line, but in a voice so weak, waver-
ing by reason of his efforts not to laugh, that the effect was
more ludicrous than ever. He could get no farther, how-
ever. For the recollection of the joke that had passed, and
the anticipation of the one that was coming, fairly doubled
him up, and he let the book drop out of his hands in the
middle of one of his convulsions.

4 *_

356 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

The next performance was an * instrumental ' one, which
bade fair to be a great success. Four of the boys had
learned to whistle ' Home, Sweet Home ' in parts, and were
now about to ravish the audience with this time-honoured
melody. They stood meekly side by side in a straight line
facing the audience, waiting for the leader to begin, and
screwing their mouths up into the proper shape. Just as
the signal was given, and each had taken a long breath and
was in the act of letting out, some lout in the audience
laughed ! The result may be imagined. The first note,
which was to have been so beautiful, sounded" just like the
letting off of steam from four leaky safety-valves, and no
effort could recover the melody. The more they tried the
more they laughed. The more they laughed the more the
audience roared. There they stood, with faces of mingled
agony and mirth, frantically trying to get the sound out ;
but it never came, and they finally had to retire, leaving the
audience to imagine what the effect of 'Home, Sweet
Home ' might have been had they only got at it.

However, as the ' dramatic ' performance came next, the
audience were comforted. The modest subject chosen was
Hamlet.

Stephen, who was combining the duties of master of the
ceremonies with those of president, rose and said to the
company,

' All turn round, and don't look till I tell you.'

Of course every one pretended to turn round, and of
course everybody looked as hard as he could. And they
saw Bramble hop up on a chair and lower the gas, to re-
present night. And they saw Paul and Padger stick up two
or three forms on end, to represent a castle. And they saw
two other boys walk majestically on to the platform in
ulsters and billycock hats, and their trousers turned up, and
sticks in their hands to represent soldiers.

( Now you can turn round/ cried Stephen.

They did turn round, just at the very moment when

THE FOURTH JUNIOR ENTERTAINMENT. 357

Bramble, attempting to lower the gas still further, turned it
right out. The effect was remarkable. No one and nothing
was visible, but out of the black darkness came the following
singular dialogue : —

' Who's there ? ' ' Have you got a lucifer about you, any
of you?' * Nay j answer me. Sta?id and unfold yourself. 7
' Don't be a fool (in agitated accents) ; you're shoving me
off the platform/ * Why don't you light up ? ' * Long live
the king" 'Ah, here's one. What's become of the chair? '

Next moment, amid great applause, the gas was re-lit,
and the thrilling tragedy proceeded.

It went on all right till the ghost enters, and here another
calamity occurred. Padger was acting ghost, dressed up in
a long sheet, and with flour on his face. Being rather late
in coming on, he did so at a very unghost-like pace, and in
the hurry tripped up on the bottom of his sheet, falling flop
on the platform, which, being none of the cleanest, left an
impression of dust on his face and garment, which greatly
added to the horror of his appearance. He recovered the
perpendicular with the help of two soldiers and a few friends,
and was about to proceed with his part, when the door
suddenly opened and Mr. Rastle appeared.

He had evidently not come to see the show — indeed he
hardly seemed aware that a show was going on. His face
was grave, and his voice agitated, as he said —

' Has any one here seen Loin an ? '

No one had seen him since breakfast that morning.

' Is Greenfield senior here ? '

'Yes, sir,' answered Oliver.

4 Will you come with me to the Doctor at once, please ? '

Oliver was out in the passage in a moment, and hurrying
with the master to Dr. Senior's study.

' I'm afraid,' said Mr. Rastle, as they went — 'I'm afraid
something has happened to Loman ! '

(353)

CHAPTER XXXVI.

MISSING.

LOWLY Oliver followed Mr. Rastle to the Doctor's

study with strange forebodings at heart.

What the ' something that must have happened to Loman '
could be, he could not conjecture ; but the recollection of
his unhappy schoolfellow's troubles and of his difficulties,
and — worse still — of his dishonesty (for Oliver had no doubt
in his mind that Loman had taken the examination paper),
all came to his mind now with terrifying force.

Oliver had never been fond of Loman, as the reader
knows, but somehow there are times when one forgets
whether one is fond of another person or not, and Oliver
felt as if he would give anything now to be sure —

Here he was at the Doctor's study.

Dr. Senior was standing at the fireplace with a very grave
look, holding a letter in his hand.

'Greenfield,' said he, the moment the boy entered, 'when

did you see Loman last?'

' Last night, sir, after preparation.'

' He was not in his class this morning ? '

'No, sir — he sent down word he had a headache.'

' You saw him last night — where ? '
' In my study.'

The Doctor paused uncomfortably, and Mr. Rastle put in

a question.

' Are you and Loman great friends ? '

MISSING. 359

1 No, we are not friends.'

' Does he often come to your study ? *

4 No, sir. Very rarely.'

'May I ask, Greenfield/ said the Doctor, * why he was in
your study last night ? '

This was getting close quarters for Oliver, who, how-
ever, had made up his mind he must, if put to it, say all
he knew.

'He came to — to ask me about something.'

' Yes, what ? '

* He made me promise not to tell any one.'

'Greenfield,' said the Doctor, seriously, 'Loman has dis-
appeared from St. Dominic's. Why, I cannot say. If you

know of anything which will account for this proceeding,
you owe it to yourself, to me, and to your schoolfellow, who
may yet be recovered, to speak plainly now.'

The Doctor's voice, which had been stern when he began
to speak, betrayed his emotion before the sentence was
ended, and Oliver surrendered without further demur.

' lie came to borrow some money,' he replied.

*Yes,' said the Doctor.

Oliver had nothing for it but to narrate all he knew of
Loman's recent money difficulties, of his connection with
Cripps, and of his own and Wraysford's share in helping
him out of his straits.

The Doctor heard all he had to say, putting in a question
here and there, whenever by the boy's manner there seemed
to be anything kept in the background which wanted some
coaxing to bring out.

' And he wanted to borrow more money yesterdav,
then ? '

'Yes, sir. He said Cripps had found there was another
sovereign owing, and had threatened to expose Loman
before you and the whole school unless he got it at once.
But I fancy that must only have been an excuse.'

' Yes. And did you lend him the pound ? '

360 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

'I hadn't got it to lend/ replied Oliver, 'the last lot had
completely cleared me out.'

'There is one other question I want to ask you, Green-
field,' said the Doctor, fidgeting with the paper in his hand.
* How long do you suppose this .has been going on ? '

* I don't know, sir — but should think for some time.'

' What makes you think so ? '

' Because,' replied Oliver — and there was no help for it

'because at the time I spoke to you about the scrape my
young brother got into at the lock, last autumn, Loman was
very thick with Cripps.'

'Indeed? That was just before the Nightingale examina-
tion, was it not ? '

' Yes, sir/ said Oliver, beginning to feel the ground very
uncomfortable all round. Here he was telling tales right
and left, and no help for it. Surely the Doctor was carrying
it a little too far.

' Do you suppose Loman was in debt at that time ? '

' I have no idea,' replied the boy, wondering whatever
that had to do with Lo man's disappearance now.

' You wonder why I ask this question/ said the Doctor,
apparently reading the boy's thoughts. 'This letter will
explain. I will read it to you, as you may be able to throw
some light on it. I received it just now. It is from Cripps. 1

' " Hon. Sir, — I take the liberty of informing you that one
of your young gents, which his name is MisterXoman, is a
prig. He's been a regular down at my shop this twelve
month, and never paid a farthing for his liquor. More
than that, he's been a-drawing money from me up to thirty-
five pounds, which I've got his promisery note due last
Micklemas. He said he was a-going to get a Nightingale
or something then that would pay it all off, and I was flat
enough to believe him. If that ain't enough, he's a-been
and played me nicely over a rod I sold him. I might have
persecuted him over that job but I didn't. He cracked it

MISSING. 36 1

to rights, and then tries to pass it back on me for same as
when he got it, and if I hadn't a-been a bit sharper nor
some folk I should have been clean done. This is to tell
you I ain't a-going to stand it no longer, and if I don't get
my money there'll be a rumpus up at the school which
won't be pleasant for none of you. So the shortest cut is
to send on the money sharp to your humble servant, Ben
Cripps. P.S. — I've wrote and told the young swell I've
put you on the job."

( It is evident,' said Mr. Rastle, ' this letter has something
to do with Loman's disappearance.'

'Yes,' said Oliver, 'he was awfully frightened of you or
his father getting to know about it all, sir.'

' Foolish boy ! ' said the Doctor, with a half groan.

What little could be done at that late hour was done.
Strict inquiries were made on all hands as to when and
where the missing boy was last seen, and it was ascertained
that he must have left St. Dominic's that morning during
early class time, when every one supposed him ill in bed
with a headache.

But where had he gone, and with what object? A tele-
gram was sent to his father, and the reply came back that
the boy had not gone home, and that Mr. Loman was on
his way to St. Dominic's. At the Maltby railway station no
one had seen or heard anything of him.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rastle had gone down to the Cockchafer
to see Cripps. The landlord was not at home, but, said
the potboy, was most likely ' up along with the old 'un at
the lock'us.' From which Mr. Rastle gathered there was a
chance of seeing Mr. Cripps junior at the residence of Mr.
Cripps senior, at Gusset Lock-house, and thither he accord-
ingly went. Mr. Cripps junior was there, sweetly smoking,
and particularly amiable.

In answer to Mr. Rastle's inquiries, he made no secret of
his belief that the boy had run away for fear of exposure.

362 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

6 You see, Mister,' said he, ' I don't like a-getting young
folk into trouble, but when it comes to robbing a man
downright, why, I considers it my dooty to give your
governor the tip and let him know.'

Mr. Rastle had no opinion to. offer on this question of
morals. What he wanted to know was whether Cripps had
seen the boy that day, or had the slightest idea what had
become of him.

Mr. Cripps laughed at the idea.

'Not likely/ he said, ; he'd tell me where he was a-goin'
to, when he'd got thirty-five pound of mine in his pocket,
the young thief. All I can say is, he'd better not show
up again in a hurry till that little bill's squared up.' And
here Mr. Cripps relapsed into quite a state of righteous
indignation.

' Wait till he do come back, I says,' he repeated. ' I'll
be on him, mister, no error. I'll let the folks know the kind
of young gents you turn out up at your school, so I will.'

Mr. Rastle took no notice of all this. He admitted to
himself that this man had some reason for being disagree-
able, if Loman bad really absconded with such a debt as
he represented.

' Thirty-five pounds,' continued Cripps, becoming quite
sentimental over his wrongs, 'and if you won't believe me,
look at this. This here bit of paper's all I've got in return

for my money — all I've got ! '

And so saying he took from his pocket and exhibited to
Mr. Rastle the very promissory note, signed by Loman,
which he had pretented to tear up and burn the last time
that unhappy boy was at the Cockchafer.

Had Mr. Rastle known as much as the reader knows he
would not have wasted more time over Mr. Cripps. He
would have seen that, whatever had happened to the boy,
Mr. Cripps's purpose was to make money by it. But he did
not know all, and looked at the bill with mingled astonish-
ment and sorrow as an important piece of evidence.

MISSING. 363

' He really owed you this ? ' he asked.

* He did so — every brass farthing, which I've waited ever
since Michaelmas for it, mister. But I ain't a-going to wait
no longer. I must have my money slap down, I let you
know, or somebody shall hear of it. 1

'But he has paid you something?' said Mr. Rastle, re-
membering Oliver's account of the loan of eight pounds.

'Has he?' exclaimed Cripps, satirically. 'Oh, that's all
right, only I ain't seen it, that's all.'

' Do you mean he hasn't paid you anything ? } demanded
Mr. Rastle, becoming impatient with his jocular manner.

' Of course, as you says so, it ain't for me to say the
contrairy; but if you hadn't told me, I should have said he
ain't paid me one brass farthing, so now/

'Dear me, dear me !' exclaimed Mr. Rastle. Of course,
if that was so, Loman must have borrowed the eight pounds
from Oliver on false pretences, and kept it for his own use.

' I tell you what/ broke in Mr. Cripps, in the midst of
this meditation, ' I don't want to do nothing unpleasant
to you, or the governor, or anybody. What I say is, you'd
better see this little bill put square among you, and then
the thing can be kept quiet, do you see ? It would be
awkward for you to have a regular shindy about it,
my man, but that's what it'll come to if I don't get my
money.'

This declaration Mr. Cripps delivered in a solemn voice
which was his nearest approach to earnestness. But he was
mistaken in expecting Mr. Rastle to be much affected or
overawed by it. On the contrary, it gave that gentleman a
new insight into his acquaintance's character, which decided
him that a prolongation of this interview would neither be

pleasant nor profitable.

So Mr. Rastle abruptly turned and went, much to the
regret of Cripps, who had not half spoken his mind yet.

Returning to the school, the master reported all he had
to say, which was not much. There an anxious ni«ht was

364 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINICS.

spent by the masters and the one or two boys who were in
their confidence in the matter.

The half hope that Lorn an might return of his own accord
before night was quickly dispelled. Bed-time came, and no
signs of him. Later his father arrived, anxious and excited,
and was closeted for some time with the Doctor.

Meanwhile everything that could be done at that time of
night was done. The Maltby newspapers were communi-
cated with, and the police. Unpleasant as it was, the
masters decided the right thing to do was to make the
matter known at once, and not damage the chance of the
boy's discovery by any attempt to keep his disappearance
quiet.

At dawn next day an organised search was begun, and
inquiries were started in every direction. Mr. Cripps,
among others, once more received the honour of a visit,
this time from Mr. Loman himself, who, greatly to the
astonishment of the worthy landlord, called for his son's
promissory note, which, being produced, he paid without
a word. Cripps was fairly taken aback by this unexpected
piece of business, and even a trifle disconcerted. It never
suited him to be quite square with anybody, and now that
Mr. Loman had paid every farthing that could be claimed
against his son, he did not like the look of Mr. Loman at
all, and he liked it less before the interview ended. For
Mr. Loman (who, by the way, was a barrister by profession)
put his man that morning through a cross-examination which
it wanted all his wits to get over creditably. As it was, he
was once or twice driven completely into a corner, and had
to acknowledge, for the sake of telling one lie, that the last
twenty statements he had made had been lies too. Still
Mr. Loman kept at him. Now he wanted to know exactly
how often his son had visited the Cockchafer ? When he
was there last ? When the time before that ? What he
had done during his visits ? Had he played cards ? With
whom ? With Cripps ? Had he lost ? Had Cripps won ?

MISSING. 365

Had Cripps gone on letting him run up a score and lose
money, even though he got no payment ? Why had Cripps
done so ? Where had he expected to get payment from in
the end ?

Altogether it was hot quarters for Cripps that morning,
and once or twice he struck completely, and putting himself
on his dignity, declared ' he wasn't a-going to be questioned
and browbeated as if he was a common pickpocket ! ' which

objection Mr, Loman quietly silenced by saying 'Very well,'
and turning to go, a movement which so terrified the worthy
publican that he caved in at once, 1 and submitted to further
questions.

Mr. Loman then followed up his advantage by finding
out all he could about the companions whom his son had
been in the habit of meeting on the occasion of his visits to
the Cockchafer. What were their names, occupations, ad-
dresses, and so on? Cripps, if any one had told him
twenty-four hours ago that he would be meekly divulging
all this information to any one in his own house, would have
scoffed at the idea. But there was something about Mr.
Loman's voice, and Mr. Loman's eye, and Mr. Loman's
note-book, which was too much for the publican, and he
submitted like a lamb.

In due time the ordeal was over, and Mr. Loman said
he would now go and call upon these young gentlemen, and
see what they had to say, and that Mr. Cripps would most
likely hear from him again.

Altogether the landlord of the Cockchafer had hardly
ever passed such an uncomfortable morning.

Meanwhile the other searchers, among whom were Oliver
and Wraysford, were busy.

For a whole day there came no news of the missing boy.
No one could be met who had seen him or heard of him.
Neither in Maltby nor up the river, nor in the country
roads round, could any tidings of him be found. Towards
evening those who remained anxiously behind began to

366 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

entertain fresh fears. Had the boy been merely running
away, some one would surely have seen him or heard of
him. Had anything worse happened to him?

Mr. Loman and the police-inspector paid a hurried visit
to the boat-house. Had the boy been there ? No, no one
had been there for two days. They followed the paths
through the woods, asking at every cottage and stopping
every passer-by. But no, no one knew anything. No boat
had passed through the lock, no passenger on foot had
gone past it.

The night came, and with it most of the searchers re-
turned, dejected and worn out.

The school was strangely silent. Not a sound could be
heard in the passages or class-rooms. Nothing but the heavy
rain, which now began to fall dismally upon the roof and
windows of the old school-house.

Boys who heard it shuddered, and their minds went out
into the dark wet night after their lost schoolfellow, where-
ever he might be.

Where was he now? they wondered, and how was he
faring ?

' Has Greenfield returned?' asked the Doctor, as about
ten o'clock the masters and Mr, Loman met for the
mockery of supper in the head master's study.

'No,' said Mr. Jellicott. 'I have just been inquiring.
He has not returned.'

' Strange,' said the Doctor ; ' which direction did he
take ? '

' Up towards Grandham,' said Wraysford ; 'we went
together as far as the cross roads, and then I went off on
the Dallingford road and back by the river.'

' He ought to be back now,' said the Doctor, looking
concerned.

'There is no railway or coach from Grandham/ sug-
gested Mr. Rastle; 'he would have to walk back most
likely/

MISSING. 367

'And in this rain ! ' said the Doctor.

'Perhaps/ said Wraysford, 'he may have heard some-
thing.'

It was a cheery suggestion. If it could but be true !

'He would have telegraphed/ said Mr. Loman.

'There is no telegraph office there/ said the Doctor;
' the Grandham people have to come here or to Dallingford
to telegraph/

They waited an hour, but Oliver did not return.

The night became more and more stormy. The bleak
February wind whistled among the chimneys, and the hard
rain beat pitilessly at the windows and on the gravel walk
outside.

The Doctor rose and pulled up the blind and looked out.
It was a dreary prospect. The rain had turned to sleet,
and the wind was growing fast to a gale. The trees round
the house creaked and groaned beneath it.

'It is a dreadful night/ said the Doctor. 'Those two
poor boys ! '

No one else said anything. The storm grew fiercer and
fiercer. Boys in their dormitories sit up in bed and lis-
tened to the roar of the wind as it howled round the house.
And that silent party in the Doctor's study never once
thought of seeking rest. Midnight came ; but no Oliver,
no Loman — and the storm as furious as ever.

Presently there came a soft knock at the door, which
made every one start suddenly as the door opened.

It was Stephen in his night-shirt. He, like every one
else, had been awakened by the storm. Oliver was the
monitor of his dormitory; and now for the first time the
boy missed his elder brother. Where was Oliver ? he asked.
No one could say. He had been out all day, and no one
had seen him since he got back.

This was enough for Stephen. With bounding heart and
quivering lips he sprang from his bed and hurried down stairs.
There was a light in the Doctor's study; and there he went.

363 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

The boy's alarm and terror on hearing that his brother
had not returned was piteous to see. He begged to be
allowed to go and look for him, and only the Doctor's
authoritative command could put him from this purpose.
But nothing would induce him to return to bed ; so Wrays-
ford fetched him an ulster to keep out the cold.

The night wore on, by inches; and the storm raged out-
side with unabated wildness.

More than once the impulse had seized Wraysford to
sally out at all risks and look for his friend. But what
could one do in a night like this, with a blinding sleet full
in one's face, and a wind which mocked all attempts at
progress or shouting !

No, there was nothing for it but to sit patiently and
await daylight.

One, two, three o'clock came, and still nothing but the
storm. Stephen crouched closer up beside Wraysford, and
the elder boy, as he put his arm round the younger, could
feel how his chest heaved, and how his teeth chattered.

' You're cold, old boy,' said he, kindly.

'No, I'm not, Wray,' said the boy, with a gulp; 'but
don't talk, Wray, I—'

The next instant Stephen, with a sudden cry, had bounded

to his feet and rushed to the window.
' Some one called ! ' he cried.

1 369 )

CHAPTER XXXVII.

FOUND !

T

HE little company of watchers sprang to their feet
with one accord and listened, as Stephen wildly
flung up the window. The storm burst into the room as he
did so, with all its vehemence, drenching those who stood
near, and deafening every one with its roar. But no other
sound could be heard. Stephen, heedless of the weather,

stood motionless with his head out of the window, listening.
Alas ! it must have been a false hope after all — -a brother's

fancy.

( A mistake, I fear/ said Dr. Senior. 'Greenfield, I

think you had better close the window. It will be daylight

in

He had not time to finish his sentence, for with a sudden
exclamation and a shout of, * There it is again ; come,
Wray ! ' the boy had leapt from the low window, half clad
as he was, into the garden.

For Wraysford to follow him was the work of an instant
Mr. Rastle and Roach the porter did the same, while the
others went hurriedly out into the passage to the hall door.
Close as they were to one another, Wraysford lost sight of
Stephen for a moment in the blinding sleet which dashed
full in their faces. But he heard him shouting a few yards
off, and was at his side the same moment.

* No use shouting/ said he, ' against the wind.'

'I must shout!' exclaimed Stephen, calling out once more.

37o THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

' Where — what did you hear ? ' asked Wraysford.

'Some one shouting. I'm positive of it!' said the boy,
plunging forward.

'Stand still, and listen again/ said Wraysford; ' we may
be going all wrong.'

It was all he could do to keep the younger boy still for a
few seconds. What ages those seconds seemed !

A voice somewhere ? No, only Mr. Rastle and Roach
coming up behind.

' Well ? ' inquired the master, breathlessly.

' Hush ! ' said Stephen, turning his head to the wind to
listen.

What a wind it was ! Surely it would beat any voice to
shreds !

1 We may as well go on,' said the boy, impatiently.

' Wait a second or two longer/ said Wraysford.

Scarcely had he spoken when, joyous sound ! there came
on the wind from somewhere what sounded like a feeble
shout !

In an instant all four bounded forward and were once
more lost in the storm.

But they had hope, and every moment, a night like this,
was precious. They groped down the garden walk, and
towards the meadow, shouting as they went. Then presently .
they halted again and listened.

'Yes there was the call again, and nearer. Thank
Heaven ! they were on the right track. On they went once
more. Another shout ! Nearer still !

Oh, for a lull in the tempest, that they might give one
shout back !

'Try,' said Mr, Rastle, 'they may hear it. Here, Roach,
come and shout — one, two, three, and a — '

What a shout it was ! The wind got hold of it as if it
had been a sparrow's twitter, and tossed it mockingly over
their heads and far away behind them, who knows where ?
' It's no go,' said Wraysford. ' Hullo, here's the meadow

FOUND! 371

ditch. Hadn't we better follow it up and down ? Stephen
and I will take the left.'

Once more, as they- turned, a shout !

' Oh, be quick!' cried Stephen. 'Where does it come
from ? Come, Wray, quick ! J

They might as well have tried to fly as run against that
wind ; but they crawled rapidly forward.

Suddenly, close at their side, rose the shout again. With
a bound the two boys were over the ditch, and in another
moment a fourfold shout proclaimed that the wanderers
were found !

Oliver and Loman were crouching under a tree, the
former without coat or waistcoat, which he had thrown
round the shivering and now senseless- form of his com-
panion.

It was no time for words, either of joy or explanation ;
time enough for that when every one was safe indoors.
Mr. Rastle and Roach between them carried Loman, while
Oliver, in scarcely better plight, was helped along by his
brother and friend.

' Is it far ? ' he asked, faintly,

'No, old man; that light there is St. Dominic's.'

'Is it? I didn't know that when I shouted; I thought
we were miles away.'

' Oh, no ! Hold up, old boy ; we're just there/

And so this strange procession returned before the wind
to St. Dominic's, and when, a few minutes later, watchers

and rescuers and rescued all gathered in the Doctor's study,

Oliver, as well as Loman, was insensible.

It was some days before the true story of that terrible
night could be told, and then Oliver only told it briefly.

Late in the afternoon, as he was about to turn back, he
said, he heard from a farmer's boy that he had seen a
stranger that morning asleep under a hedge about a mile off.
Vague as this information was, it decided Oliver at once to
go forward, which he did. As might have been expected,

372 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DO MI NIC S.

there was no trace of the ' stranger ' at the hedge, and no
amount of searching along it could discover any clue. Still,
he did not like to turn back while a chance remained. He
went on towards Grandham, inquiring of everybody and
looking everywhere.

At last — it was getting dusk — he entered a field across
which ran a footpath which led direct to Grandham Green.
He was half way across, wondering if he could by any

chance find a cart or vehicle of any kind to drive him back
to St. Dominic's, when at the other side of the field he sud-
denly caught sight of a figure getting up from under the
hedge and moving quickly away. He instantly and instinc-
tively gave chase. The other, seeing he was discovered,
began to run too. It was Loman. Oliver called to him to
stop, but he paid no heed. He continued to run as long as
he could, and then, like a hunted animal, turned at bay.
Oliver told very few all that had passed when finally he

did come up with the wanderer. His first impression,
judging from the unhappy boy's strange and excited manner,
was that he had gone out of his mind. He appeared reck-
less and desperate at first, and determined to resist all
attempts to bring him back. He would sooner die than go

back to St. Dominic's, he said. What right had Oliver to
interfere with him and dog him in this way ? He had a
right to go where he chose, and no one should stop him.
Oliver let him talk on, not attempting to reply, and avoid-
ing all appearance of using force to detain him.

This wise policy had its effect. In time the poor fellow,
who was really suffering more from hunger and fatigue (he
had not had a morsel of food since the afternoon before)
than from anything else, quieted down, and gave up further
resistance. Oliver told him, in as few words as he could,
of the distress which his disappearance had caused at St.
Dominic's and to his parents, and besought him to return
quietly, promising forgiveness for the past, and undertaking
that all would be made right if he would only come home.

FOUND! ■ 373

Loman listened to all doggedly. 'You're humbugging
me ! ' he said. * You know I stole that paper ? '

' Oh, don't talk of that ! ' cried Oliver. ' Do come back ! '

i You know — can't you get me something to eat ? '

As he said this he sunk down with a groan upon the
grass. Oliver started wildly to rush to the nearest cottage.
As he did so, however, a doubt crossed his mind, and he
said,

' You'll promise to wait here, will you ? '

1 Oh, yes'; be quick.'

Oliver flew on the wings of the wind towards the village.
There was a cottage a few hundred yards away. As he
neared it, he cast one look back. The wretched boy was
on his feet, hurrying away in an opposite direction.

Another chase ensued, though only a short one. For
Loman was in no condition to hold out long. Oliver half
led, half dragged him to Grandham, where at last he pro-
cured food, which the unhappy fugitive devoured ravenously.
Then followed another talk, far more satisfactory than the
last. Restored once more in body and mind, Loman con-
sented without further demur to accompany Oliver back to
St. Dominic's, but not before he had unburdened his mind
of all that was on it.

Oliver implored him not to do it now, to wait till he got
back, and then to tell all to his father, not to him. But the
poor penitent was not to be put off. Until he had confessed
all he would not stir a foot back to the .school.

Then Oliver heard all that sad story with which the
reader is now familiar. How that first act of fraud about
the rod had been the beginning of all this misery. How
Cripps had used his advantage to drive the boy from one
wickedness and folly to another — from deceit to gambling,
from gambling to debt, from debt to more deceit, and
so on. How drinking, low company, and vicious habits
had followed. How all the while he was trying to keep up
appearances at the school, though he saw that he was

374 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC'S.

gradually becoming an object of dislike to his fellows. How
he had staked everything — his whole hope of getting free
from Cripps — on the result of the Nightingale examination;
and how, when the critical moment came, he yielded to the
tempter and stole the paper.

'And you can fancy how punished I was when, after all,
the Doctor missed the paper and altered the questions,
Greenfield. I was so taken aback that I didn't even
answer as well as I could. And then I lost the paper I had
stolen — couldn't find it anywhere, and for weeks I was in
constant terror lest it should turn up. Then I saw the fel-
lows were all suspecting you to be the thief, and you know
how meanly I took advantage of that to hide my own guilt.
Oh, Greenfield, what a wretch, what a miserable wretch I
have been ! '

' Poor fellow ! ' said Oliver, with true sympathy. ' But,
I say, do let's be going back, it's getting late, and looks as
if it might rain.'

( I must tell you the rest, Greenfield, please. You're the
only fellow I can tell it to. Somehow I think if I'd had a
friend like you all the last year I shouldn't have gone wrong
as I have. How I used to envy you and Wraysford, always
together, and telling one another your troubles ! Well, of
course, after the Nightingale exam, things were worse than
ever. I'd given Cripps a bill, you know, a promise to pay
in September. I don't know anything about bills, but he
made me sign it Of course I couldn't pay when it came
due, and had to make all sorts of excuses and tell all sorts
of lies to get him to give me more time ; as if I was more
likely to pay later on than then ! But, somehow, if I could
only get the thing off my mind for the present, I felt that
was all I cared about. He gave in at last, and I was able
to pay it off bit by bit. But I was in constant terror all
that term of his coming up to St. Dominic's. You know he
did come once, at the football match against Landfield,
and I thought I was done for.'

FOUND I 375

Here Loman paused a moment, and Oliver, seeing that
he was determined to tell his story to the end, waited
patiently till he continued.

' Then there was that Waterston exam. I fancied I might
get that if I worked. Ass that I was to think, after all my

wasted time and sin, I had any chance against you or
Wraysford ! I tried to work, but soon gave it up, and went
on going down to the Cockchafer instead, to keep Cripps in
good humour, till I was quite a regular there. You know
what a fearful hash I made of the exam. I could answer
nothing. That very day Cripps had sent up to threaten to
tell the Doctor everything unless I paid what I still owed.
I had paid off all the bill but eight pounds. I had got
some of it from home, and some of it by gambling; I'd
paid off all but eight pounds. You know, Greenfield, who
lent me that/

' I'm thankful we were able to do it/ said Oliver.

( If you'd known how I hated you and despised myself
over that eight pounds you would hardly have been glad.
Everything was hateful. I took the money down to Cripps
and paid it him. He pretended at first that he wouldn't
take it ; and then when he did, and I asked him to give me
back my promissory note, he laughed at me. I nearly went
mad, Greenfield, at the thought of not being clear after all.
At length he did make believe to give in, and produced
what I thought was the bill, and tore it up in my presence.
I couldn't see it, but he read it out aloud, and I had no
doubt it was actually the thing. I was so grateful I actually
felt happy. But then came the discovery of that miserable
exam, paper. I must have left it in my Juvenal last Sep-
tember, and forgotten all about it. I was certain the
Doctor knew quite well I was the thief, but I denied it and
tried feebly to put it on you. Then everybody cut me ; but
I hoped still all might blow over in time. But every day it
became harder to bear ; I should have had to confess at
last, I believe. Then came Cripps's final villainy. He had

376 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC S.

never destroyed my bill after all, but now calmly claimed
the whole amount.'

'The scoundrel !' exclaimed Oliver, indignantly.

1 1 had no receipts to show what I had paid, and of
course was at his mercy. This. last move really drove me
half crazy. I daren't tell any one about it. I was too
desperate to think of anything but running away and hiding
somewhere. I had no money. I came to you with a lie
to try to borrow a pound, so that I might go somewhere by
train. You couldn't do it, and so I had to walk, and — and
— oh! Greenfield, what shall I do ? what will become of me?'

'My dear fellow,' said Oliver, laying his hand on the
unhappy boy's arm, ' we'll go back together, and I can prom-
ise you you'll find nothing but kindness and forgiveness
when you get back. If I wasn't sure of that, I wouldn't
urge you to come. There ! I wish you could have seen
your poor father's face last night.'

Loman held out no longer ; and, indeed, it was high
time to think of moving, for the afternoon was closing in
and rain was already beginning to fall.

Loman was in no condition for walking, nor, indeed, was
Oliver, who had been on his feet since early morning. A
farmer's cart was with some difficulty found, which happened
to be going a good part of the distance, and in this the two
boys late that afternoon ensconced themselves. They
talked little at first, and presently not at all. Each had his
own thoughts, and they were serious enough to occupy them
for a much longer journey.

Night fell presently, soon after they had started, and with
it the rain and wind came heavily. There was little enough
protection for these two worn-out ones in an empty open

cart, but what they could get from an old wrap and some

boards they secured.

As the storm grew worse this poor shelter became quite
useless, and the two boys suffered all the horrors of a bitter

exposure.

FOUND! 377

Loman, who had got a cough already, was the first to
show distress, and he soon became so cold and numbed
that Oliver grew alarmed. They would be better walking
than sitting still in that jolting cart a night like this.

So, much against their own inclination and the advice of
the carman, who characterized the proceedings as 'tom-
foolery,' they alighted, and attempted to take the short cut
across the fields to St. Dominic's.

Short cut, indeed ! It was indeed a sarcastic name for
the road those two boys took that terrible night. Oliver
could never recollect all that happened those few hours.
He was conscious of the tremendous storm, of the hopeless
losing of their way, and of Loman's relapse into a state of
half-unconsciousness, in the midst of which he constantly
begged to be allowed to lie down and sleep.

To prevent this was Oliver's principal occupation during
that fearful time. More than once he was forced into a
hand-to-hand struggle to keep his companion from his pur-
pose. To let him lie down and sleep on such a night would
be, he knew, to leave him to certain death. At any cost he
must be kept moving. At last the storm fairly vanquished
them. Even Oliver began to grow half-hearted in his
determination. He took off his own coat and waistcoat and
pat them on his comrade, who by this time was stupid with
cold and exhaustion. A few minutes longer and both might
have given themselves up, when suddenly there flickered a
light before them. All Oliver could do was to shout. He
had no power left to drag Loman farther, and leave him he
would not. He shouted, and the reader knows who heard

that shout, and what the answer was.

Such was Oliver's story, and it needed little amplifica-
tion. If it had, the only boy who could have added to it
was in no position to do so. For four weeks after that
night Loman lay ill with rheumatic fever, so ill that more
than once those who watched him despaired of his recovery.
But he did recover, and left St. Dominic's a convales-

378 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOM INI CS.

cent, and, better still, truly penitent, looking away from self
and his own poor efforts to Him, the World's Great Burden
Bearer, whose blood ' cleanseth us from all sin.'

His schoolfellows saw him no more; did not know, in-
deed, when he left them. Only one of them shook hands
with him at the door of the old school as he went. That
boy was Oliver Greenfield.

( 379 )

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

GOOD-BYE TO ST. DOMINIC'S.

ND now, reader, we are at the end of our story, and
there only remain the usual ' last words ' before we

say good-bye.

St. Dominic's flourishes still, and only last season beat
the County by five wickets ! The captain on that occasion
was a fellow called Stephen Greenfield, who carried his bat
for forty-eight in the first innings. He is a big fellow, is the
captain, and has got a moustache. Though he is the oldest
boy at St. Dominic's, every one talks of him as ' Greenfield
junior.' He is vastly popular, and fellows say there never
was such a good Sixth at the school since the days of his
brother, Greenfield senior, five years ago. The captain is
an object of special awe among the youngsters of the Fourth
Junior, who positively quake in their shoes whenever his
manly form appears in the upper corridor.

These youngsters, by the way, are still the liveliest section
of St. Dominic's. The names Guinea-pig and Tadpole have
died out, and left behind them only the Buttercups and
Daisies, who, however, are as fierce rivals and as inky scamps
as even their predecessors were. There is a lout of a fellow
in the Fourth Senior called Bramble, who is extremely
'down' on these juveniles, always snubbing them, and,
along with one Padger, a friend of his, plotting to get them
into trouble. But somehow they are not much afraid of

380 THE FIFTH FORM AT ST DOMINIC S.

Bramble, whereat Bramble is particularly furious, and sum-
mons Padger to a ' meeting ' about once a week in his
study, there to take counsel against these irreverent Butter-
cups and Daisies.

About the only other fellow .the reader will recollect is
Paul, now in the Sixth, a steady-going sort of fellow, who,
by the way, has just won the Nightingale Scholarship,
greatly to the delight of his particular friend the captain.

Last year the Fifth tried to revive an old institution of
their Form, in the shape of a newspaper entitled the
Dominican, directed chiefly against the members of the
Sixth. But somehow the undertaking did not come off.
The Dominican was a very mild affair for one thing, and
there was nothing amusing about it for another thing, and
there was a good deal offensive about it for another thing ;
and for another thing, the captain ordered it to be taken
down off the wall on the first day of its appearance, and
announced that if he had any more of this nonsense he
would thrash one or two whose names he mentioned, and
knock one or two others out of the first eleven.

The Dominican has not appeared since.

The big cricket match against the County I spoke of just
now was a famous event for more reasons than one. The
chief reason, of course, was the glorious victory of the old
school ; but another reason, almost as notable, was the
strange muster of old boys who turned up to witness the
exploits of the 'youngsters. 1

There was Tom Braddy, for instance, smoking a big
cigar the size of a pencil-case, looking the picture of a snob.
And with him a vacant-looking young man with a great
crop of whiskers on his puffy cheeks. His name was
Simon. The great idea of these two worthies seemed to
be to do the grand before their posterity. They were con-
vinced in their own minds that in this they were completely
successful, but no one else saw it.

GOOD-BYE TO ST. DOMINICS. 381

Boys took a good deal more interest in a lame gentleman
present, who was cracking jokes with everybody, and hob-
bling about from one old crony to another in a manner that
was perfectly frisky. Every one seemed to like Mr. Pern-
bury, and not a few to be afraid of him. Perhaps that
was because he was the editor of a well-known paper of
the day, and every one likes to be on good terms with
an editor.

Then there were a batch of fellows whose names we need
hardly enumerate, who had run over from Oxford, or Cam-
bridge, or London for the day, and who got into clusters
between the innings and talked and laughed a great deal
over old times, when ' Bully did this,' and ' Rick did that/
and so on. A nice lot of fellows they looked on the whole,
and one or two, so people said, were doing well.

But among these the lions of the day were two friends
who strolled about arm-in-arm, and appeared far more at
home in St. Dominic's even than the boys themselves.
One of them was the big brother of the captain — a terrible
fellow by all accounts. He rowed in the boat of his
'Varsity the last year he was at Cambridge, and since then
he has been called to the bar, and no one knows what else !
People say Oliver Greenfield is a rising man ; if so, we
may hear of him again. At any rate in the eyes of the
admiring youngsters of St. Dominic's he was a great man

already.

So was his friend Wraysford, a fellow of his college, and
a ' coach ' for industrious undergraduates. He does not
look like a tutor, certainly, to judge by his jovial face and
the capers he persisted in cutting with some of his old com-
rades of years ago. But he is one, and St. Dominic's
Junior eyed him askance shyly, and thought him rather
more learned and formidable a person than the old Doctor

himself.

No one enjoyed themselves on that day more than these

382 THE FIFTH FORM A T ST. DOMINIC S.

two, who prowled about and visited every nook and cranny
of the old place — studies, passages, class-rooms, Fourth
Junior and all.

The match is over, the jubilations of victory have sub-
sided, and one by one the visitors depart. Among the last
to leave are Oliver and Wraysford ; they have stayed to
dine with the Doctor, and when at last they do turn their
backs on the old school it is getting late.

Stephen accompanies them down to the station. On the
way they pass the well-known Cockchafer. The old board
is still there, but a new name is upon it.

' Hullo ! what's become of Cripps ? ' asked Wraysford.

' Oh ! he's gone,' said Stephen. ' Didn't you know? '

'No! When was that?'

' The very time you and Noll went up to Cambridge.
The magistrates took away his license for allowing gambling
to go on at his house. He stuck on at the lock-house for
some time, and then disappeared suddenly. They said he
was wanted for some bit of swindling or other. Anyhow,
he's gone.'

1 And a very good riddance too,' says Oliver.

'So it is,' replies Stephen. 'By the way, Noll, what's
the last news of Loman ? '

' Oh, I meant to tell you. He's coming home ; I had a
letter from him a week or two ago. He says the four or
five years' farming and knocking about in Australia have
pulled him together quite ; you know how ill he was when
he went out?'

'So he was,' says Wraysford.

1 He's coming home to be near his father and mother.
He's been reading law, he says, out in the backwoods, and
means to go into his father's office.'

'I'm glad he's coming home,' says Wraysford. 'Poor
fellow ! I wonder when he'll come to this old place again.'

A silence follows, and Oliver says, ' When he does, I tell

GOOD-BYE TO ST DOMINIC S. 383

you what : we must all make up a jolly party and come
down together and help him through with it.'

' Well, old man ! ' said Stephen, taking his brother's
arm, 'if it hadn't been for you, he — '

'Hullo, I say! there's the train coming!' breaks out
Oliver. ' Look alive, you fellows, or we shall be late ! '

THK END.