He contented himself with blocking Duncan's balls until his eye was in; but then, acquiring confidence, he sent them flying right and left. His score rapidly mounted, and there seemed no chance of getting him out, so that there was every probability of his carrying out his bat. "Oh, _well_ hit! _well_ hit! A three-er for Eric," cried Wildney to the scorer; and he began to clap his hands and dance about with excitement at his friend's success. "Oh, well hit! well hit in-deed!" shouted all the lookers on, as Eric caught the next ball half-volley, and sent it whizzing over the hedge, getting a sixer by the hit. At the next ball they heard a great crack, and he got no run, for the handle of his bat broke right off. "How unlucky!" he said, flinging down the handle with vexation. "I believe this was our best bat." "Oh, never mind," said Montagu; "we can soon get another; we've got lots of money in the box." What had come over Eric? if there had been a sudden breath of poison in the atmosphere he could hardly have been more affected than he was by Montagu's simple remark. Montagu could not help noticing it, but at the time merely attributed it to some unknown gust of feeling, and made no comment. But Eric, hastily borrowing another bat, took his place again quite tamely; he was trembling, and at the very next ball, he spooned a miserable catch into Graham's hand, and the shout of triumph from the other side proclaimed that his innings was over. He walked dejectedly to the pavilion for his coat, and the boys, who were seated in crowds about it, received him, of course, after his brilliant score, with loud and continued plaudits. But the light had died away from his face and figure, and he never raised his eyes from the ground. "Eric!" said Wildney chaffingly, "you don't acknowledge your honours." Eric dropped his bat in the corner, put his coat across his arm, and walked away. As he passed Wildney, he stooped down and whispered again in a low voice-- "The curse has come upon me, cried The Lady of Shalott." "Hush, Eric, nonsense,", whispered Wildney; "you're not going away," he continued aloud, as Eric turned towards the school. "Why, there are only two more to go in!" "Yes, thank you, I must go." "Oh, then, I'll come too." Wildney at once joined his friend. "There's nothing more the matter, is there?" he asked anxiously, when they were out of hearing of the rest. "God only knows." "Well, let's change the subject. You've been playing brilliantly, old fellow." "Have I?" "I should just think so, only you got out in rather a stupid way." "Ah well! it matters very little." Just at this moment one of the servants handed Eric a kind note from Mrs Rowlands, with whom he was a very great favourite, asking him to tea that night. He was not much surprised, for he had been asked several times lately, and the sweet womanly kindness which she always showed him caused him the greatest pleasure. Besides, she had known his mother.