u know, and used to the river."

"Oh, I'd rather Riddell did it if he can," said Wyndham. "I know he's
awfully anxious to get it up."

The talk went on like this, and trenched on no uncomfortable topic. The
only reference to anything of the sort was when Silk said, just as
Wyndham was going, "Oh, Wyndham, I've told Gilks here that you've
promised not to let out about Beamish's--"

"Yes," said Gilks, "I wouldn't care for that to get about, young un."

"Oh, of course I won't say anything," said Wyndham.

"Thanks, no more will we; will we, Silk?" replied Gilks.

Silk assented and their visitor departed.

"Young fool!" said Gilks, when he and his friend were left alone. "He's
not worth bothering about."

"If it weren't for the other prig I'd agree with you," said Silk. "But
don't you think we can hit at his reverence occasionally through his
disciple?"

"I dare say," said Gilks. "The young prig had an innocent enough time
of it to-night to suit even him. How he does talk!"

"Yes, and isn't he hot about the race? I say, Gilks, I hope there'll be
no mistake about Parrett's winning. I've a lot of money on them."

"Never fear," said Gilks. "It'll be rather a rum thing if I, rowing in
the schoolhouse boat, can't put the drag on them somehow. I don't
expect for a moment it will be wanted; but if it is, Gilks will be under
the painful necessity of catching a crab!"

"I don't mind how you do it as long as there's no mistake about it,"
said Silk. With which ungenerous admission Gilks produced a couple of
cigar-ends from his pocket, and these two nice boys proceeded to spend a
dissipated evening.

The reader will have guessed from what has already been said that the
coming boat-race was every day becoming a more and more exciting topic
in Willoughby. Under any circumstances the race was, along with the May
sports and the cricket-match against Rockshire, one of the events of the
year. But this year, ever since it had come somehow to be mixed up with
the squabble about the captaincy, and the jealousy between Parrett's and
the schoolhouse, it had become more important than ever.

Old Wyndham had, of course, left the schoolhouse boat at the head of the
river, but there was scarcely a boy (even in the schoolhouse itself) who
seriously expected it would remain there over the coming regatta.

The Parrett's fellows were already crowing in anticipation, and the
victory of Bloomfield's boat was only waited for as