d, taking out his watch, "it's getting close to the time."

Mercer's eyes glistened as the watch was examined, and it seemed to me
that my companion sighed as the watch was replaced.

Just then Hodson came up.

"How is he?"

"Too bad to play, he says. Isn't it beastly?"

"Do you mean it, Burr junior?"

"Yes," I said. "I'm very, very queer. I couldn't play."

"You ain't shamming, are you?"

"Look at me and see," I replied faintly, and directly after I felt a
cool hand laid on my burning forehead.

"There's no gammon about it," said Hodson. "We must do the best we can.
Look sharp, Senna."

"Yes," said Burr major; "he'll have to take a turn at the bowling."

"I shan't play if Frank Burr don't," said Mercer stoutly.

"What?" cried the two boys together.

"You must put some one else on instead of me; I've got a headache too."

"Oh, I say," cried Hodson, and he and Burr both tried hard to shake
Mercer's sudden resolution. I too tried, but it was of no use; he grew
more stubborn every minute; and after Burr major had again referred to
his watch, the two lads went off together, disappointed and vexed.

"You might have gone and played with them, Tom," I said.

"I know that," he replied; "but I wasn't going without you. I'm going
to stop and talk."

"No, no, don't," I said. "I only want to be quiet till--Oh, my head, my
head!"

"Why, Burr junior, what's this?" cried Mr Hasnip, coming up and
speaking cheerily. "Bad headache? not going to play?"

"No, sir, I feel too ill."

"Oh, come, this is a bad job. Hi, Rebble!"

The latter gentleman came up.

"Here's Burr junior queer. Does he want a doctor, do you think?"

Mr Rebble looked at me attentively for a few moments, and then said
quietly,--

"No; only a bilious headache, I should say. Go and lie down for an hour
or two, my lad, and perhaps it will pass off."

I gladly crawled up to our dormitory, took off my jacket and boots, and
lay down on the bed, when I seemed to drop at once into a doze, from
which I started to find Mercer seated by the window looking out.

"Better?" he said, as I stirred.

"Better! No; I feel very ill. But what are you doing here?"

"Come to sit with you," he said stolidly.

Just then there was a burst of cheering, and the crunching noise made by
wheels.

"Here they are," cried Mercer excitedly. "Oh, I say, I do wish you were
better! I should like to lick those Hastings chaps."

"Then why don't you go?" I