hey've got
leave."

"I'm afraid they will think so. Is there any other claimant to the
study?"

"No; not that I know of."

"Perhaps they had better remain for the present," said the master. "But
I cannot imagine what the noise is about. Will you see, Ainger, as you
go up?"

This was a broad hint that the merry party was at an end, and no one was
particularly sorry.

"Wait a second in my room, you fellows," said Ainger, on the stairs,
"while I go and shut up this row."

The mystery of this disorder was apparent as soon as he opened the door.
The double study, measuring fifteen feet by nine, was temporarily
converted into a football field. The tables and chairs were piled on
one side "in touch"; one goal was formed by the towel-horse, the other
drawn in chalk on the door. The ball was a disused pot-hat of the
baronet's, and the combatants were the two owners of the study _versus_
their cronies and fellow "Shell-fish"--Tilbury, of the second eleven,
and Dimsdale, the gossip. There had been some very fine play on both
sides, and a maul in goal at the towel-horse end, in which the dog had
participated, and been for a considerable period mistaken for the ball.
_Hinc illae lacrymae_.

At the moment when Ainger looked in, Herapath's side had scored 35 goals
against their adversaries' 29. The rules were strict Rugby, and nothing
was wanted to complete the sport but an umpire. The captain arrived in
the nick of time.

"Offside, Dim!--wasn't he, Ainger? That's a place-kick for us! Hang
the dog! Get out, Smiley; go and keep goal. See fair play, won't you,
Ainger?"

To this impudent request Ainger replied by impounding the ball. "Stop
this row!" he said peremptorily. "Tilbury and Dimsdale, you get out of
here, and write fifty lines each for being off your floor after eight."

"We only came to ask Herapath what Latin we've to do this term; and
there's no preparation for to-morrow."

"Well, if this is your way of finding out about your Latin, you know
just as much up-stairs as down here. Be off; and mind I have the lines
before dinner to-morrow."

The two champions retired disconcerted, leaving the captain to deal with
the arch offenders.

"First of all," said he, "what business have you in this study?"

"Oh, Railsford knows we're here; we told him, and he didn't object."

"Don't you know you ought to come to the prefects about it?"

Oddly enough, both the boys had completely forgotten.

"Besides