he'd stayed till
now." (Laughter, and cries of "Give him a clothes-brush!") "The fellows
all look up to Mr Bloomfield. He ran grandly for the school at the
sports the other day, and licked the London fellow. (Here the
enthusiasm became positively deafening.) What's Mr Riddell done for
the school? I should like to know. We want a fellow who has done
something for the school, and, I repeat, Mr Bloomfield's our man, and I
hope you'll elect him Speaker."

Game sat down amidst a tempest of applause, which brought a flush of
pleasure even to his serious face.

Many curious eyes were turned to Riddell to see the effect of this
uncomplimentary oration upon him.

At first he had looked nervous and uncomfortable, and had even whispered
to Fairbairn, who sat next him, "Don't you think I'd better go?"

"For goodness' sake, no!" exclaimed Fairbairn. "Don't be a fool,
Riddell."

The caution had its weight. Riddell saw he must brave it out; and that
being settled, he felt more comfortable, and listened to all the
unpleasant things that were said in a composed manner which greatly
perplexed his adversaries.

Ashley, who seconded Game's motion, was hardly so fortunate in his
remarks as his predecessor.

"I second the motion, gentlemen," he said. "It's time we made a stand
against this sort of thing." ("What sort of thing?" from voices on the
schoolhouse side.) "Why, schoolhouse tyranny. (Frantic Parrett cheers.)
Why is the whole credit of Willoughby to be sacrificed for the sake of
your precious schoolhouse?" ("Question!" "Order!" drowned by renewed
cheers.) "Why, just because he's a schoolhouse fellow, is a muff to be
stuck over us? and just because he's a Parrett's fellow, is a splendid
fellow like Mr Bloomfield to be snubbed in the face of the whole
school? (Loud cheers.) It's time Willoughby found out that Parrett is
the cock house of the school." ("Oh! oh!" from the Welchers.) "It's got
the best men in it. (Parrett cheers.) It's head of the river." ("Oh
no, not yet," from Fairbairn.) "Well, it will be very soon. It's ahead
in everything." ("Except intelligence," from Crossfield.) "No, I don't
even except intelligence. (Loud cheers from Bosher, and laughter.)
And, as a sign of its intelligence, I beg to second the motion."

This abrupt and somewhat vague termination to Ashley's spirited address
did not detract from the applause with which it was greeted by his own
partisans, or from the wrath with whi