e sent his reply by post. It was polite,
and to the point. The committee of the debating society did not see
their way to extend the limit of the rule relating to membership. They
would be pleased to admit any of the Fifth Form who could obtain
permission to attend the meetings, but they would not be entitled to
vote, or to take any active part in the proceedings.

Tinkleby was incensed at this cool reception of his proposal, and
harangued his comrades during a temporary absence of Mr. Ward from the
classroom.

"They think such a confounded lot of themselves, with their miserable
essays and dry debates. I'll bet we could stand up and spout as well
as they can, on any subject you like to mention, from cribbing to
astronomy."

"Of course we could," answered Boswell-Jones, who had prepared a paper
entitled, "An Hour with the Poets," into which he had introduced all
his favourite recitations, and which he longed to fire off at something
in the shape of an audience--"of course we could; it's all that
conceited beast Heningson. He thinks he's an orator--great ass!"

"Well, look here," said Tinkleby, fixing his nippers with an air of
resolution and defiance, "Heningson's going to open a debate next
Saturday. The subject is: 'That this house is of opinion that the
moral and physical condition of mankind is in a state of
retrogression.' We'll go and hear it. Ward'll let us do our 'prep.'
in the afternoon. I've got a little plan in my head, and we'll take a
rise out of these gentlemen."

The Melchester School Debating Society, as we have already mentioned,
was established for the benefit of the senior boys, who held their
meetings every Saturday night during the winter and Easter terms in
what was known as the drawing classroom. It was conducted in a very
solemn and serious manner. Redbrook, the head of the school, took the
chair; while on the table before him, as a sign of his office and
authority, a small hand-bell was placed, which he was supposed to ring
when, in the heat and excitement of debate, members so far forgot
themselves as to need a gentle reminder of the rule relating to
silence. As a matter of fact, the chairman seldom, if ever, had any
need to use this instrument, though on one occasion some wag removed it
before the proceedings commenced, and substituted in its place the huge
railway-bell used by Mullins, the school-porter; a jest which greatly
incensed the grave and dignified assembly on whom