billion Snowball."

The baronet was fully impressed with the importance of his friend's
disclosures.

"It's a regular case," said he. "I never thought it of him. We must
keep it dark and give him a leg out."

"I fancy so," said Arthur. "It's a sort of family affair, you see.
It's half a pity he can't know that we've bowled him out and are
sticking to him. But I suppose it's best not to let him suspect it."

"No--better keep it all dark. He'll know all about it some day."

And the two confederates went to bed happy that night, in the
consciousness that they were restored to one another's confidence, and
that they were standing between their miscreant "kinsman" and the
punishment which properly belonged to his crime. On the following
morning a notice appeared on the common room door, signed by Ainger,
summoning the house to meet after tea on particular business. The
important business had no connection with the _affaire Bickers_, but was
the captain's first move towards pulling up the house to the proud
position he designed for it.

"Now, you fellows," said he, in the course of a short spirited speech,
"I needn't tell you that our house is down on its luck this term.
(Cheers.) We are in the black books of the doctor, as you know--and we
can't well help it. Somebody in the house thinks fit to tell a lie, and
gets us all into trouble; but we aren't going down on our knees to that
person or any other sneak to help us when we mean to help ourselves.
(Loud cheers.) Now this is one way I propose we help ourselves. We
are, you all know, cut out of the sports, and school cricket, and all
that sort of thing. (Shame!) Very well; but they can't prevent our
getting up house sports of our own, and a house eleven, and showing that
we aren't going to be put down. (Applause.) I mean to train hard
myself, and run the mile if I can in quicker time than Smedley or anyone
else in the School sports; and unless I'm mistaken Barnworth means to
show that Railsford's house can jump an inch higher than any other house
at Grandcourt, even though we don't get a prize for it (tremendous
cheers); and I am not so sure if Wake doesn't press their second man
pretty close. (Bravo, Wake!) You youngsters will have to do your
share. We want a Railsford's fellow to lick the time of every event in
the School sports. (Loud cheers.) We may not be able to do it in all;
but we'll know the reason why, if we don't. (So we will!) You'll h