y 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."

"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."

"Is he, though?" said Wraysford.

"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 distinguished himself in
the argument."

"Well, it doesn't seem