wind in a gale against the Hawk's Back might be
able to beat it. But then Fellsgarth was not competing; each of the
fellows was merely chatting pleasantly to his neighbours. It was hardly
a fair trial. And yet it was not bad for the School. When Dangle, who
owned the longest ear in the school, could not hear a word which
Brinkman, who owned the loudest voice, shouted into it, it spoke
somewhat for what Fellsgarth might do in the way of noise if it tried.

The only two persons who were not actively contributing to the general
clamour were the two new boys who sat wedged in among a mass of juniors
at one of the lower tables. They may have considered that the beating
of their hearts was noisy enough. But people in this world are slow at
hearing other people's hearts beat. No one seemed to notice it.

It is due to the stouter of these two young gentlemen to say that the
beating of his heart, and the general state of amaze in which he found
himself, did not interfere greatly with his appetite. He had brought
that accomplishment, if no other, from home, and not being engaged like
those around him in conversation, he contrived to put away really a most
respectable meal. Indeed, his exploits in this direction had already
become a matter for remark among his neighbours.

"It's all right," said one of the juniors, who answered to the name of
D'Arcy; "his buttons are sewn on with wire. They'll hold."

"I suppose he's made of gutta-percha," observed another. "He'll stretch
a little more before he's done."

"I say, what a bill he's running up! By the way, what do they charge
for this kind of pudding?"

"It's a dear kind--and nothing like as good as the sort we get for
regular. I never could understand why they make fellows shell out for
what they eat first-night."

"It _is_ a swindle," said D'Arcy, solemnly. "I've had to make a very
light meal, because I've only half a crown, and I'm afraid there won't
be much change left out of that."

The new boy was just laying butter on a roll, and preparing to close the
proceedings of the meal with a good square turn of bread and butter.
But as D'Arcy's words fell on his ears he suddenly stopped short and
looked up.

"I say," said he, "isn't this dinner charged in the house bill then?"

D'Arcy laughed derisively.

"Well, you most be a muff. Don't you know school doesn't begin till to-
morrow? They give you dinner to-night, but you're not obliged to eat
it."

The n