ck's sovereignty had been that the "Firm" had contracted
a habit of telling the truth to one another on all occasions. It was
found to be the shortest cut to friendship, and a vast saving of time
and trouble.

Georgie, therefore, however much his inclination, as moulded by Pledge,
may have led him to prevaricate, replied, "I was in Pledge's study."

Dick whistled, rather a dismayed whistle.

"I thought you were out of that," he said.

"So did I; but, I don't know, Dick. He's got to know all about our row,
and if I don't be civil to him he'll let out on us."

"How does he know? Who's told him?"

"I never did," said Coote.

"I can't fancy how he heard. But he knows all about it, and he as good
as says he'll spoil our chance for the 'Sociables' if I don't fag for
him."

"Beastly cad!" murmured Dick.

"He says, you know," pursued George, "that it was all a spite of
Mansfield's against him--that making me Swinstead's fag. They knew it
would make him resign. It is rather low, isn't it, to humbug me about
just for the sake of spiting someone else?"

"It's all a lie, Georgie. Pledge is one of the biggest cads in
Templeton. I heard lots of people say so. Webster said so. He says
he'd no more let a boy of his go near Pledge than he'd fly; and
Webster's not particular."

"And I heard Cartwright say," said Coote, by way of assisting the
discussion, "that Pledge has done his best to make a cad of you, and
nearly succeeded."

"He said that?" said Georgie, hotly; "like his cheek! Has he done so,
Dick?"

"Not much," said Dick, frankly.

"I don't feel myself a cad," said poor Heathcote.

"Perhaps fellows can't always tell, themselves," said Coote.

There was a pause after this, and the "Firm" walked on for some distance
in silence. Then Dick said:

"You'll have to jack him up, Georgie, that's all about it."

"But I tell you he'll let out on us," pleaded Georgie, "and really I've
only said I'll fag now and then for him."

"Can't help, Georgie; We don't want to have you made a cad of. It would
smash up our 'Firm,' wouldn't it, Coote?"

"Rather," said Coote.

"Besides," said Dick, "he's such a cad, no one would believe him if he
did tell of us. My father would shut him up. He'll be down, you know,
on Tuesday."

Heathcote breathed hard. But when it came to a question of choosing
between Pledge and the "Firm," it needed no very desperate inward battle
to decide.

"What had I better do?" he aske