ng me cry baby."

"I'll learn something about boys sometime--if you fellows will keep on
educating me," observed Irving. "I think your performance of yesterday
deserves about a sheet; we'll make it that."

He scribbled a note and handed it to the boy.

"Thank you, Mr. Upton." Collingwood tucked the note into his pocket with
a friendly smile, and then joined Westby.

"Knock you down to half a sheet?" asked Westby, as they departed in the
direction of the Study, where they were to perform their tasks.

"No; a sheet."

"Mine's one and a half now. What got into him?"

"He's not without sense," said Collingwood.

"Ho!" Westby was derisive. "He's soft. He got scared. He knew he'd gone
too far--and he was afraid to stand by his guns."

"I don't think so. I think he's just trying to do the right thing."

It was unfortunate for Irving that later in the afternoon Carter of the
Fifth Form--who played in the banjo club with Westby--was passing the
Study building just as Westby was coming out from his confinement.

"Hello, Wes!" said Carter. "Thought you were in for three sheets; how do
you happen to be at large so soon?"

"Kiddy made it one and a half--without my asking him," said Westby.

"And Collingwood the same?"

"He made his only a sheet."

"That's it," said Carter shrewdly. "I was waiting to see the rector this
morning; the door was open, and he had Kiddy in there with him. I guess
he was lecturing him on those reports; I guess he told him he'd have to
take off a couple of sheets."

"I shouldn't wonder," said Westby. "I don't believe old Hoopo would
have interfered much on my account,--but I guess he couldn't stand for
Lou Collingwood getting three sheets. And Kiddy, the fox, tried to make
us think he was being magnanimous!"

Westby chuckled over his humorous discovery, and as soon as possible
imparted it to Collingwood.

"Oh, well, what if the rector did make him do it?" said Collingwood.
"The way he did it shows he's all right--"

"Trying to get the credit with us for being just and generous!" observed
Westby. "Oh, I don't mind; of course it's only Kiddy."

And it was Westby's view of the matter which most of the boys heard and
credited. So the improvement in the general attitude for which Irving
had hoped was hardly to be noticed. He had some gratification the next
Sunday when the roast beef was brought on and he carved it with
creditable ease and dispatch; the astonishment of the whole table, and