turday, just before morning school, the voting papers were
collected, and directly after dinner the boys assembled to hear the
result of the poll. According to the usual custom, no masters were
present. Allingford presided, and the excitement was intense.

A hush of expectation fell on the crowded room as the captain mounted
the platform on which stood the head-master's desk. Up to the present
time elections at Ronleigh had been little more than a matter of
form, but on this occasion every one felt that something more was at
stake than the mere distribution of the school offices.

"Gentlemen, the business of this meeting, as you are very well aware, is
to announce the result of the elections.

"The following," continued Allingford, referring to the paper which he
held in his hand, "have been chosen to act as the Sports Committee:
Myself chairman, Oaks, Acton, Rowland, Parkes, Redfern, and Hoyle.

"The two former librarians, Clarkson and Lang, have been re-elected.

"Dale, who for some time past held the position of keeper of the
reading-room, having left, the choice of a successor has fallen between
Lucas and Ferris, who, singularly enough, both received the same number
of votes. Each of these gentlemen being equally ready to withdraw in
the other's favour, I exercised my prerogative as captain of the school,
and gave the casting vote in favour of Lucas."

At this there was a slight murmur among the audience, though whether of
dissent or approval it was impossible to tell. The interruption was
only momentary, for every one was too much interested in the next
announcement to care much what became of the post of keeper of the
reading-room.

"As you all know, two vacancies have occurred among the prefects, to
fill which the following gentlemen have been chosen, and their election
duly sanctioned by the head-master: Parkes and Fielding."

The words had hardly passed the speaker's lips when the whole room was
in an uproar. Cheers, howls, whistling, and the stamping of feet filled
the air with an indescribable din; members of the Lower Fourth fought
one another across the desks; and it was some minutes before Allingford
could obtain sufficient silence to enable him to finish his speech.

"This," he said, in conclusion, "is the result of the present election.
I believe there has been some little difference of opinion among you,
especially in regard to the selection of the two fresh prefects; there
are so many wo