st term."

"But you are not going to have them this term. Two other fellows have
started dogs on the strength of Smiley already, and there's to be a
clean sweep of the lot."

"Oh, rot! you can't interfere with fellows' rights like that," said
Felgate.

"I tell you Railsford gave us leave," repeated Arthur.

"Very well," said Ainger; "unless both of them are packed off home by
this time to-morrow, or sent down to the school farm, you'll go up to
the doctor and settle the question with him."

"Rubbish!" said Felgate. "Until Railsford--"

"Shut up," said the captain; "I'm not talking to you."

It was hardly to be wondered at if he was out of temper. He was having
any amount of extra work to do; and to be thus obstructed by one of his
own colleagues was a trifle too much for his limited patience.

Felgate coloured up at the rebuff, knowing well enough that the captain
would be delighted to make good his words at any time and place which
might be offered him. He remained after he had gone, and said to
Arthur--

"That's what I call brutal. You're not going to care two straws what he
says?"

"All very well," said Arthur, stroking his puppy; "if he sends me up to
Pony, what then?"

"Bless you, he won't send you up to Pony."

"Think not? If I thought he wouldn't, I'd hang on till Marky comes
back. He'd square the thing."

"Of course he would. It's a bit of spite of Ainger's. He thinks he's
not quite important enough, so he's going to start bullying. I'll back
you up."

"Thanks, awfully," said the ductile Arthur. "You're a brick. I'd take
your advice."

He did, and prevailed upon Dig to do the same.

The consequence was, that when next afternoon the captain walked into
their study to see whether his order had been complied with, he was met
by an unceremonious yap from Smiley herself, echoed by an impertinent
squeak from her irreverent son.

"You've got them still, then?" said Ainger. "Very well, they can stay
now till after you've been to the doctor. Nine o'clock sharp to-morrow
morning, both of you."

The friends turned pale.

"Not really, Ainger? You haven't sent up our names, have you? We'll
send them off. We thought as Felgate said--oh, you cad!"

This last remark was occasioned by Ainger departing and shutting the
door behind him without vouchsafing any further parley.

They felt that the game was up, and that they had been done. In their
distress they waited upon Felgate and la