He never imputed anything; but, on the other hand, he never did anything else, and, with the best intentions in the world, he had reduced the house-prefects to a state as nearly bordering on nervous irritation as healthy boys can know. Worst of all, they began at times to wonder whether Stalky & Co. had not some truth in their often-repeated assertions that Prout was a gloomy ass. “As you know, I am not the kind of man who puts himself out for every little thing he hears. _I_ believe in letting the house work out their own salvation--with a light guiding hand on the reins, of course. But there is a perceptible lack of reverence---a lower tone in matters that touch the honor of the house, a sort of hardness.” Oh, Prout he is a nobleman, a nobleman, a nobleman! Our Heffy is a nobleman-- He does an awful lot, Because his popularity Oh, pop-u-pop-u-larity-- His giddy popularity Would suffer did he not! The study door stood ajar; and the song, borne by twenty clear voices, came faint from a form-room. The fags rather liked the tune; the words were Beetle’s. “That’s a thing no sensible man objects to,” said Prout with a lop-sided smile; “but you know straws show which way the wind blows. Can you trace it to any direct influence? I am speaking to you now as heads of the house.” “There isn’t the least doubt of it,” said Harrison angrily. “I know what you mean, sir. It all began when Number Five study came to the form-rooms. There’s no use blinkin’ it, Craye. You know that, too.” “They make things rather difficult for us, sometimes,” said Craye. “It’s more their manner than anything else, that Harrison means.” “Do they hamper you in the discharge of your duties, then?” “Well, no, sir. They only look on and grin--and turn up their noses generally.” “Ah,” said Prout sympathetically. “I think, sir,” said Craye, plunging into the business boldly, “it would be a great deal better if they were sent back to their study--better for the house. They are rather old to be knocking about the form-rooms.” “They are younger than Orrin, or Flint, and a dozen others that I can think of.” “Yes, sir; but that’s different, somehow. They’re rather influential. They have a knack of upsettin’ things in a quiet way that one can’t take hold of. At least, if one does--” “And you think they would be better in their own study again?” Emphatically Harrison and Craye were of that opinion. As Harrison said to Craye, afterwards, “They’ve weakened our authority. They’re too big to lick; they’ve made an exhibition of us over this usury business, and we’re a laughing-stock to the rest of the school. I’m going up (for Sandhurst, understood) next term. They’ve managed to knock me out of half my work already with their--their lunacy. If they go back to their study we may have a little peace.”