e each, though," said Cusack, laying the herrings out in
a row on the table. "I say, I wish we'd got some forks or something to
toast these with."

"Wouldn't the slate do to stick them on?" suggested Curtis.

"Might do, only Grange wrote out a lot of Euclid questions on it, and
I've got to show them to him answered to-morrow, and I'd get in an awful
row if it was rubbed out."

"Rather a bore. I tell you what, though," exclaimed Philpot, struck
with the brilliant idea, "there's the pan in the chemistry-room they mix
up the sulphur and phosphorus and that sort of thing in. I'll cut and
get that. It's just the thing."

"All serene," said Cusack; "better give it a rub over in case it blows
up, you know."

Philpot said "All right," and went, leaving the others to poke up the
fire and get all ready for the reception of the pan.

He was a long while about it, certainly, considering that the chemistry-
room was only just at the end of the passage.

"I wonder what he's up to?" said Pilbury, when after about three minutes
he did not return.

"I wish he'd hurry up," said Curtis, whose special attraction was
towards the dough-nuts, which of course could not come on till after the
herrings.

"I wonder if he's larking about with some of the chemicals. I never
knew such a fellow as he is for smells and blow-ups--"

"I'll blow him up if he's not sharp," said Cusack, losing patience and
looking mournfully at the row of herrings on the table.

"Let's begin without him," said Pilbury.

"So we would if we had anything to do them on."

"I'll go and see if I can get a fork or two," said Morrison.

"Thanks, and wake up Philpot while you're out."

Morrison went, and the others kicked their heels impatiently and eyed
the good things hungrily as they waited.

Cusack tried toasting a herring on one of the small forks, but the heat
of the fire was too great for him to hold his hand at such close
quarters, and he gave it up in disgust.

What was the matter with everybody this afternoon? Morrison was away
ages and did not return.

"Oh, bother it all!" exclaimed Cusack, whose patience was now fairly
exhausted, "if they don't choose to come I'm hung if they'll get
anything now. I'll go and get the pan myself."

And off he went in high dudgeon, leaving his guests in charge of the
feast.

"If he can't get the pan or a toasting-fork," said Curtis,
disinterestedly, "wouldn't it be as well to have the dough-nuts now, and
l