ed on Telson close to the door, talking and laughing behind his
hand with Parson, who listened in an unconcerned way, and looked about
him as if he felt himself to be the monarch of all he surveyed. These
were two of the boys who would wait upon him in his study immediately
after prayers! Riddell turned quite miserable at the idea.

Prayers ended at last, and while the other monitors repaired to the
Sixth Form room to discuss the presentation of the petition as narrated
in our last chapter, Riddell walked dejectedly to his study and prepared
to receive company.

No one came for a long time, and Riddell was beginning to hope that,
after all, the dreaded interview was not to come off, or that there was
a mistake somewhere, and some one else was to deal with the culprits
instead of himself, when a scuttling of footsteps down the passage made
his blood run cold and his heart sink into his boots.

"I _must_ be cool," he said to himself, fiercely, as a knock sounded at
the door, "or I shall make a fool of myself. Come in."

In response to this somewhat tremulous invitation, Telson, Parson,
Bosher, Lawkins, King, trooped into his study, the picture of
satisfaction and assurance, and stood lounging about the room with their
hands in their pockets as though curiosity was the sole motive of their
visit.

Riddell, while waiting for them, had hastily considered what he ought to
say or do. But now, any ideas he ever had darted from his mind, and he
gazed nervously at the small company.

"Oh!" said he at length, breaking silence by a tremendous effort, and
conscious that he was looking as confused as he felt, "I suppose you are
the boy--"

"Yes," said Bosher, leaning complacently against the table and staring
at a picture over the mantelpiece.

"The boys who were late," said Riddell, stammering. "Let me see." Here
he took up the paper and began to read it over: "`Co. Pri. Telson
(S.H.).' Ah, yes! Telson. You were late, weren't you? Why were you
late?"

A question like this was decidedly a novelty; Wyndham's formula had
invariably been, "Telson, hold out your hand," and then if Telson had
anything to remark he was at liberty to do so. But to be thus invited
to make excuses was an unexpected treat which these cunning juniors were
quite sharp enough to jump at.

"Oh, you know," began Telson, "it wasn't our fault. We were up-stream
in the Ark, and meant to be back all right, only the schoolhouse boat
overhauled