said Stafford.

"And the prefects?"

"Felgate and I are prefects, sir. The other two are out."

"And you two have allowed this noise and disorder to go on for half an
hour?"

"We were going to stop it," said Felgate, faltering.

"By looking on and applauding?" responded the master. "You forget that
from one of my windows everything that goes on here is plainly visible,
including those who stand at the door and look on when they ought to
know better. Go to your rooms, you two."

"We are in charge of the house, sir," mildly protested Felgate.

"_I_ am in charge of the house," thundered Mr Bickers. "Obey me, and
go."

They withdrew, chafing, crestfallen, and very uncomfortable.

"Now," said Mr Bickers, when the door was again closed, "Arthur
Herapath, come here."

Mr Bickers's knowledge of the names of the boys in other houses was
quite phenomenal. Arthur, with hanging head and thumping heart, slunk
forward.

"So, sir," said Mr Bickers, fixing him with his eye, "you are the model
boy whom I heard proclaiming as I came in that you could make as much
noise as you liked, and called your absent master by an insulting name."

"Please, sir," pleaded the unlucky Arthur, "I didn't mean it to be
insulting. I only called him Marky, because he's my brother-in-law--I
mean he's going to be."

"That's right, Mr Bickers," said the baronet, nobly backing up his
friend; "he's spoo-- I mean he's engaged to Daisy, Herapath's sister."

"Silence, sir," said the master with a curl of his lips. "Herapath,
come here, and hold out your hand."

So saying, he took up a ruler from a desk close at hand.

"Please, sir," expostulated Arthur--he didn't mind a cane, but had a
rooted objection to rulers--"I really didn't--"

"Hold out your hand, sir!"

There was no denying Mr Bickers. Arthur held out his hand, and was
there and then, before half his house, admonished six times
consecutively, with an emphasis which brought the tears fairly into his
hardened eyes.

"Now go, all of you, to your studies, and continue your preparation. I
shall remain in the house till Mr Railsford returns, and report what
has occurred to him."

When half an hour later the Master of the Shell, full of his athletic
prospects, returned to his quarters, he was gratified as well as
surprised by the dead silence which reigned, His astonishment was by no
means diminished when on entering the common room he encountered Mr
Bickers pacing up and down t