if you come round to the other gate, you can get
in--we'll show you where Ringwood's house is."

"Tell you what," said he to D'Arcy, as the two boys went back by the
field to meet him, "he doesn't seem a bad sort of chap--it won't do to
let my young brother Percy and those Modern cads get hold of him. I
vote we nurse him on our side while he's here."

"All serene," said D'Arcy. "Ask him to tea after the meeting."

"I suppose we shall have to let those other chaps be in it too,"
suggested Wally dubiously, after a moment.

"Better. We'll all see him through together."

The spectacle of two juniors, looking very important, carefully
conducting an anxious-faced labouring man across the School Green, was
enough to rouse a little curiosity. And when presently the bodyguard,
after sundry whispered communications, increased from two to nine, who
marched three in front, two behind, and two on either side of their
celebrity, speculation became active and warm.

The escort glared defiantly at any one who ventured to approach the
group; but when it was observed that they made straight for the doctor's
house, and one by one shook hands with the visitor on the doorstep,
there was very little doubt left as to who the stranger might be.

"Mind you come to tea," said Wally, as they parted.

"Don't you make no mistake, I'll be there," said the guest.

Work in school that morning dragged heavily. The impending meeting was
perplexing the minds of not a few. The phenomenon of. Yorke's and
Clapperton's names appended to the same document puzzled boys who still
kept alive the animosity which had wrecked the School clubs earlier in
he term and brought the sports to a deadlock. And the addition of the
names of the captains of the other two houses made it evident that the
whole School was concerned in the business. This, coupled with the
mystery of Rollitt's disappearance, and the now notorious internecine
feuds of the Modern seniors, gave promise of one of the biggest meetings
ever held in Hall.

As to the juniors, they had a treble care on their mind. First, the
meeting, and the expected refunding of the Club subscriptions; second,
the consequent run on the shop; and third, the "small and early."

In Wally's study afterwards to meet A. Rollitt, Senior, Esq.

However, despite all these cares, the morning's work was got through,
the dreaded impositions were avoided, and when the midday meal was ended
a general rush was ma