nfound it all," said Gordon, "are we going to be dictated
to by these outhouse potentates? The Stoics is more a School House
society than anything else; and, what's more, it is going to remain so.
These outhouse men can come or go if they want to. It does not matter to
us. Let us read this play with a School House cast, carry the thing
through somehow, and show these fools like Christy what we think of
them. Now is our chance of proving our independence."

"Won't there be a hell of a row, though?" said Betteridge reluctantly.

"What if there is, man?" said Gordon. "We can't help that. Somehow or
other that play is going to be read. Let this evening be a symbol of the
House's attitude. These houses have flung down the glove. They beat our
forwards when we win matches, and they try and stop our meetings. Damn
it, we'll pick up the glove!"

"Yes," shouted Gordon, "and fling it in their snivelling faces."

Betteridge drew up a huge notice of the meeting after hall and posted it
on the school board. It ran as follows:

In spite of the fact that many of the usual readers will be
prevented from attending the Second Meeting of the Stoics this
term, the Society will read, at seven-thirty, in the School
House Reading Room,

_THE YOUNGER GENERATION_

BY STANLEY HOUGHTON

Cast ....

(_Signed_) C.P. BETTERIDGE.

That evening was historic. Every member of the School House attended the
meeting, the members of the day-room as well as those from the studies.
The reading-room was packed. It was a record meeting. The reading was
erratic. Parts were forced at the eleventh hour on reluctant and totally
unsuitable persons. But somehow or other they got through it in the end;
and that was all that mattered.

But still it was not without a little nervousness that the conspirators
awaited developments. Christy saw the notice and fumed. Ferrers heard of
it and laughed. Rogers rushed to the Chief palpitating with rage.

After lunch the Chief sent for Betteridge, and asked for a copy of _The
Younger Generation_. There was an air of nervous anticipation pervading
the studies. Just before tea the Chief sent for Betteridge again.

"A very interesting play. Very modern, of course, but extremely clever.
Thank you so much for lending it me. I wish I had been at the reading. A
record attendance, I hear. Well, ask me to come next time you get as
good a play as that."

There was no reference to the o