“You mean to say, then, that there isn’t going to be any football at all?” “There will be house games only—under the control of the games master—a matter of arrangement between the captains of the houses. There will be no football which will require the services of a school captain—no school matches. And I have resigned.” He paused. “I commend that example to you,” he observed. Next moment he was deep in his book again. Roe looked miserably round the study. “Why did he fetch me from Wilton then?” “Goodness only knows! It may be that he wanted you to see the country.” “But,” said Roe, “this is all rot. I’ve got definite instructions from my father. He told me distinctly that I——” “You go back to him,” said Smythe, “and make sure that you heard him correctly. Tell him what you’ve found out. And if I were you I should ask him whether you can’t go back.” He moved across the room and opened the door. “This is the way out,” said he. * * * * * That evening Smythe recounted this incident to Rouse. “I also have seen the man,” was the answer. “I made a point of it. I went up to him and I said: ‘Bless me, I seem to know your face. Yet you haven’t been at this school so long, surely?’ He said: ‘I came to-day. My name is Roe.’ I pounced upon him. ‘Roe!’ said I. ‘Go on! Not,’ I said, ‘_young_ Roe, the son of old Roe? Why, I know your father as well as anything. Your father and I are the best of friends. Many a time have I discussed your future with him in his private sanctum over a bowl of tea. “The boy,” we have always said, breaking a muffin between us—“the boy, now, what will he become?”’ He said: ‘I’ve become captain of football,’ but he didn’t seem very pleased about it. So I patted him kindly on the shoulder. ‘Ah,’ said I, ‘come now. Not captain of football—surely.... Why, this school doesn’t _play_ football.’ ‘What does it play, then?’ said he. ‘Spillikins,’ said I. ‘I expect you’re captain of that.’” * * * * * In accordance with his instructions, Roe reported to his father next morning and explained things as well as he could.