Hugh, who had patiently waited for Bert to emerge from the field house and had walked back through the dusk with him and Nick and Pop and several others, was still bubbling praise and congratulations as, having left the rest, they toiled up the last flight. “It was simply corking, Bert!” he declared for the tenth time. “I don’t see yet how you ever got through! Why, there were at least five fellows between you and the goal line! Twice I was sure you were done for and closed my eyes, and each time, when I looked again, you were still nipping it! It was perfectly ripping!” “Just the same it ought to have been you, old man. I don’t forget that, you bet!” “I’d never have done it,” replied Hugh with conviction. “They’d have nailed me sure as shooting.” He swung open the door of the study and, followed by Bert, groped his way toward the switch. As he did so a discreet cough sounded in the gloom. “Hello,” exclaimed Hugh. “Who’s there?” “Bowles, sir. I tried to find the switch, sir, but――――” “_Who?_” “Bowles, sir. I――――” “_Bowles!_” The light flared and Hugh faced the occupant of the study in amazement. Then he sprang forward and seized the embarrassed Bowles by the hand. “Bowles! I say, wherever did you drop from? What are you doing here, eh?” “Her Ladyship thought――――” “You remember Bowles, Bert? He was with me that day I came.” “Oh, yes,” replied Bert, shaking hands rather, as it seemed, to Bowles’ horror. “How are you, Bowles?” “Nicely, thank you, sir. I――――” “But, I say, what’s the idea?” demanded Hugh. “Is the mater here?” “No, sir. Her Ladyship――_Ouch!_ Beg pardon, sir!” Bowles discreetly stepped out of the reach of Hugh’s toes. “I mean to say, Master Hugh, that your mother was worried when she received your――――” “Shut up, Bowles! Don’t be a babbling ass! You mean my mother sent you up to see what was going on, eh? Well, that’s all right, only it wasn’t necessary, you know. I’m quite O. K. Glad to see you, though. You might sit down and stop fidgeting. When did you get here?” “About a quarter to three, sir. There was――h’m――a misunderstanding about trains, sir, and I was obliged to engage a fly at the Junction.” Hugh chuckled. “You’d get the trains balled up if it was anyway possible, wouldn’t you, Bowles? Well, never mind that now you’re here. You’re going to stick around until tomorrow, I take it. I say, Bert, can he get any supper here?” “Surest thing you know! We’ll tell Jimmy and he’ll fix Bowles up downstairs. And he can sleep on the window-seat, if you like.” “Oh, no, sir, thanking you, sir! I wouldn’t think of it, sir. I’m informed there’s a very comfortable inn in the village, sir.” “Yes, that’s better,” agreed Hugh. “You can have your supper here and then stick around while the fun lasts. You see, Bowles, we’re due for a bit of a jolly rumpus tonight. This is the day we celebrate, if you know what I mean.” “Yes, sir, quite so. I――I witnessed the football contest, sir.”