thing. But I'll ask
about it. Fancy poor Yorke's feelings if we were to demand a new
election!"

"I tell you what," said Dangle, "I don't altogether understand Yorke.
He tries to pass off as fair, and just, and all that sort of thing; but
one can't be sure he's not playing a game of his own."

"We shall easily see that when it comes to choosing the football fifteen
against Rendlesham. I mean to send him in a list of fellows on our
side. It's only fair we should have half of them our men."

"Half fifteen is seven and a half," said Fullerton, a melancholy senior
who had not yet spoken; "how will you manage about that?"

"Shut up, you ass!"

"I only asked," said Fullerton. "It doesn't matter to me, I don't mind
going as the half man, if you like. If you send seven names you'll be
in a minority in the fifteen, and if you send eight you'll be in a
majority. It doesn't matter to me a bit."

"Just like Fullerton. Always asking riddles that haven't got an
answer," said Dangle.

"I wonder how Fisher will manage the treasurership," said Brinkman, who
was evidently sore at his defeat. "I shouldn't have thought accounts
were much in his line."

"He can't have very hard work doing his own," said Clapperton, laughing,
"but that's not his fault, poor beggar. Only I think it would be much
better to have a fellow for treasurer who wasn't in a chronic state of
being hard up."

"I suppose you mean," said Fullerton, who had a most awkwardly blunt way
of putting things, "he'd have less temptation to steal. I hope Fisher's
not a thief."

"What an idiot you are, Fullerton!" said Clapperton; "whoever said he
was?"

"I didn't. I only asked what you thought. It doesn't much matter to
me, except that it wouldn't be creditable to the School."

"Of course it wouldn't; it's hardly creditable to our side to have a
jackass in it," said Clapperton.

"Oh, all right--I'll go. I dare say you'll get on as well without me."

The others presently followed his example, and Clapperton, left to
himself, proceeded to draw up his list.

"Dear Yorke," he wrote, "You will probably be making up the fifteen for
the Rendlesham match shortly. Please put down me, Brinkman, Dangle,
Fullerton, West, Harrowby, and Ramshaw major, to play from our side.
This will give your side the odd man.

"Yours truly,--

"Geo. Clapperton."

This important epistle accomplished, he shouted for his fag to come and
convey it to its destination.

It