ete, and threw himself into all
their pursuits, and--and set a good example himself."

"I think you are partly right and partly wrong," said the doctor.
"There are several fine athletes in Willoughby who would make poor
captains; and as for throwing oneself into school pursuits and setting a
good example, I don't think either is beyond your reach."

Riddell felt very uncomfortable. He began to feel that after all he
might be shirking a duty he ought to undertake. But he made one more
effort.

"There are so many others would do it better, sir, whom the boys look up
to already," he said. "Bloomfield, for instance, or--"

The doctor held up his hand.

"We will not go into that, Riddell," he said. "You must not suppose I
and others have not considered the good of Willoughby in this matter.
It remains for you to consider it also. As you grow older you will
constantly find duties confronting you which may be sorely against your
inclination, but which as an honest man you will know are not to be
shirked. You have a chance of beginning now. I don't pretend to say
you will find it easy or pleasant work, or that you are likely to
succeed, at first at any rate, as well as others have done. But unless
I am mistaken you will not give in on that account. Of course you will
need to exert yourself. You know what boys look for in a captain; it's
not mere muscle, or agility. Get them by all means if you can; but what
will be worth far more than these will be sympathy. If they discover
you are one with them, and that in your efforts to keep order you have
the welfare of the school chiefly at heart, they will come out, depend
upon it, and meet you half-way. It's worth trying, Riddell."

Riddell said nothing, but his face was rather more hopeful as he looked
up at the doctor.

"Come," said the latter, "there's the bell for chapel. It's time we
went in."

Riddell entered chapel that morning in a strangely conflicting frame of
mind. The hope was still in his face, but the misgivings were still in
his heart, and the whole prospect before him seemed to be a dream.

As the slight shy boy walked slowly up the floor to his place among the
Sixth, the boys on either side eyed him curiously and eagerly, and a
half-titter, half-sneer greeted his appearance.

Some regarded him with a disfavour which amounted to positive dislike,
others with disdain and even contempt, and others thought of Wyndham and
wondered what Willoughby