e, when an opportune diversion occurred in the person of
Telson, who appeared with the remainder of his late senior's possessions
from the schoolhouse.

"I say, Riddell," he exclaimed, almost before the door was open, "here's
a jolly go! I've got to be that beast Gilks's fag, and-- Hullo! what's
up?"

This remark was caused by Silk's suddenly turning on his heel and
hurrying from the study without putting into execution his threat.

"What was he up to?" asked Telson, as the door was shut. "He was going
to exterminate me, so he said," replied Riddell, smiling.

"I wish he'd tried, and you'd given him a jolly licking," said Telson.
"He's a cad. I wonder what young Wyndham or any one sees to like in
him."

"Wyndham likes him, then?" asked the captain. "They always seem jolly
thick," said the fag. "By the way, Riddell, were you ever at
Beamish's?"

"Beamish's? No!" exclaimed Riddell. "Why?"

"Oh," said Telson, "I only wanted to know what sort of place it was."

"Not a good one. There's a pretty strong rule against it in the school.
Bad job for any one caught going there."

"I know, I'm not going; I only wanted to know what sort of place it was.
But I'm off, I've got a motion on in Parliament to-morrow. I say,
Riddell, I wish you hadn't left the schoolhouse."

And off went the junior, leaving Riddell somewhat perplexed by his
chatter, but considerably consoled nevertheless to think that there was
any one in the schoolhouse, or anywhere, who was sorry to lose him.

However, the same reason which took Telson away left Riddell also little
time to spend in vague reflections. He, too, had a speech to prepare
for Parliament to-morrow.

The meeting promised to be an important one in many respects. It was
the first after the boat-race, and consequently party feeling was likely
to make use of the opportunity to let off a little of its steam. Then,
of course, it was the captain's first public appearance as the head of
Welch's, and that was sure to excite a good deal of curiosity and
interest. And last, but not least, the subject for the evening was a
debate on the question, "That Willoughby is Degenerate," to be opened in
the affirmative by Ashley, and in the negative by Porter, and on this
burning question the debate as well as the division promised to be
pretty interesting.

There was the usual lively time before the regular business was reached
over "Questions," of which there were a good many on the no