the two seniors above
than with the two exacting female juniors below. However, the time
passed, and presently Tempest's "Come along, youngster," apprised me
that the hour of release had come.

Redwood walked back with us, and from certain fragments of conversation
which fell on my ears I was able to gather something of the result of
the conference.

"If it were only yourself, you know," said Redwood, "I'd say stick out."

"But," said Tempest, "he knows I'm not sorry, even if I say so."

"It's a choice between humble pie and Low Heath losing you," said the
captain.

"Not much loss."

"That's all you know. There's not a fellow we could spare less."

They walked on in silence; then Redwood said,--

"England ought to see that Jarman rots everything the way he goes on.
We'll be in a better position to get it altered if you cave in this
once."

"I vowed I wouldn't do it. He'll only chuckle," said Tempest, with a
groan.

"Let him! Who cares whether Jarman chuckles or not?" retorted the
captain. "Look here, old chap, don't you think he'd chuckle more if you
got expelled? That would be the biggest score you could give him. Take
my advice, and only give him the smallest."

"I don't know. I'll think about it," said Tempest.

"Of course you will, for the sake of Low Heath. Next term we'll go
ahead, and the fellows will owe you more than they think."

Here, by an odd chance, just as we came to the school gate, we met Mr
Jarman and Crofter walking out in deep confabulation.

I do not know if they saw us. If they did, they pretended not to have
done so, and walked on, leaving us to proceed.

"Do you see that?" said Tempest.

"Rather. I know what it means too. It's an extra reason why you should
swallow your pride for once, in order to sell them. I tell you they are
probably counting on your sticking out, and nothing would disappoint
them more."

"Well, old chap," said Tempest, as we came to our door, "it's not your
fault if I don't do it. I know you're right, but--"

"But it's a jolly bitter pill, and I wish I could swallow it for you.
Good night."

I had the sense for once to keep what I had heard to myself, and retired
to bed more hopeful that all would turn out right than I had been for a
day or two.

The next morning I was wandering about, aloof from my comrades, in the
quadrangle, waiting for the bell to ring for first school, when Marple,
the town bookseller, a tradesman familiar to mos