"Not a bit of it; the school are in a ferment. You know the present monitors, and particularly Somers, aren't popular; now Harpour _is_ popular, although he's such a brute, because he's a great swell at cricket and the games. I'm afraid we shall have a regular monitorial row. The monitors have convened a meeting this morning to decide about Harpour; and, to tell you the truth, I shouldn't wonder if the school got up a counter-meeting." "Don't any of the masters know about Eden?" "Not officially, though I should think some rumours must have got to them." "But surely it's very odd that the school should side with Jones and Harpour, after the shameful mischief they've done?" "Odd, _a priori_; but lots of things always combine to make up a school opinion, you know the fellows just catch up what they hear first. But who do you think is foremost champion on the school side--stirring them up to resist, abusing you, abusing Flip, abusing the monitors, and making light of Harpour's doings?" Walter asked "Who?" but he knew beforehand that Power's answer would be-- "Kenrick!" After this he said nothing, but put his hand wearily to his head, which in his weak state, was aching violently with the excitement of the news which Power had told him. "Ah, I see, Walter, you're not quite well enough yet to be bothered. I'll leave you quiet. Good-bye." "Good-bye. Do come again soon, and tell me how things go on." Strolling out from the sad sickroom into the court, Power was attracted into the great schoolroom by the sound of angry voices. Entering, he found half the school, and all the lower forms, collected round the large desk at which the headmaster usually sat. A great many were talking at once, and every tongue was engaged in discussing the propriety, in this instance, of any monitorial interference. "Order, order," shouted one or two of the few fifth-form fellows present; "let's have the thing managed properly. Who'll take the chair?" There was a general call for Kenrick, and as he was one of the highest fellows in the room, he got into the chair, and amid a general silence delivered his views of the present affair.