"It helps to call attention to the club," said the captain, laughing.
"Your lot seems to be fond of its little joke, to judge by the specimens
that came to see us off just now."

"I'm awfully sorry," said I; "they do fool about so--I say, I hope you
aren't in a wax about it."

He certainly did not look it.

I went up with him to his den, and we had quite a long talk, and somehow
without seeming to mean it, he managed to knock a great deal of nonsense
out of my head, and incite me to put my back into the work of the term.

"I suppose," said he, "you mean to back up Tempest now he's cock of
Sharpe's? You kids can make it pretty hot in a house if you choose."

"Oh, we're all backing up Tempest," said I, "especially now he's got his
colours."

"All serene," said the captain; "he'll pull through well, then."

I stayed till it was time for Redwood to go over to the school for a
committee of the Sports Club. I did not leave Number 3 without a
standing invitation to come in whenever I liked, or without painful
apologies for the contumacy of Mamie.

Redwood and I had just reached the bridge when some one confronted us
whom I recognised at once as Mr Jarman.

"Ah, Redwood, you've a meeting on. Who's this boy? Ah, I remember--
Jones iv. What did I say to you yesterday, Jones?"

"Jones has been to tea at my house," said the captain, with a flush, and
looking less amiable than I had yet seen him.

"It's after hours," said Mr Jarman, coolly. "I cautioned him
yesterday. A hundred lines, Jones iv., by to-morrow evening."

"It's not his fault," said Redwood; "I gave him leave, sir."

"We need not discuss this, Redwood," said Mr Jarman, and walked away.

I felt quite sufficiently avenged when I saw the captain's face. He
strode on some distance in silence, and then said,--

"I'm sorry, youngster. It can't be helped, though. Jarman's strictly
in the right, though it's sharp practice. You'd better cut in now.
Good night."

"Good night," said I, making off. But he called me back.

"You'd better do the doctor's lines to-night. Leave Jarman's till the
morning."

"All right."

And I departed, not a little impressed with the incident.

The captain had disappointed me a little. I should have liked to see
him knock Jarman down, or at least openly defy him; whereas he seemed to
back him up, although much against his will. The net result to me was
that I had three hundred lines to write on my third day at sch