Fisher minor was perhaps, of all persons, better able to explain the mystery than any one else. He had overheard in Ranger's study a general lamentation about the prospects for Saturday, and a wish expressed by his brother that Rollitt were not so unsociable and undependable. Everybody agreed it was utterly useless to ask him to play, and that they would have to get a second-rate man to fill the empty place, and so most probably lose the match. Fisher minor heard all this, and when presently, on his way to his own den, he passed Rollitt's door, a tremendous resolution seized him to take upon himself the duty of ambassador extraordinary for the School. Rollitt appeared to owe him no grudge for throwing stones the other day, and had already come to his relief handsomely at the time of the second election and in the affair with Dangle. On the whole, Fisher minor thought he might venture. Rollitt was reading hard by the light of one small candle when he entered. "Please, Rollitt," said the boy, "would you ever mind playing for the School on Saturday?" Rollitt looked up in such evident alarm that Fisher major put his hand on the latch of the door, and made ready to bolt. "I'll see--get out," said Rollitt. And Fisher minor did get out. It was really too absurd to suppose that Rollitt was going to play in the fifteen to oblige Fisher minor. So at least thought that young gentleman, and remained discreetly silent about his interview, hoping devoutly no one would hear of it. The joy of the Classics was almost equal to the fury of the Moderns. The latter could not deny that Rollitt was a host in himself, and worth a dozen Corders. Yet it galled them to see him quietly put in the vacant place, and to hear the jubilation on every hand. For Rollitt was the fellow who had publicly insulted the Moderns in the person of Dangle; and not only that, but--poor and shabby as he was--had shown himself utterly indifferent to their indignation and contemptuous of their threats. "Why," Dangle said, "the fellow's a pauper! he can't even pay for his clubs! His father's a common fellow, I'm told." "Yes, and I heard," said Brinkman, "his fees up here are paid for him. Why, we might just as well have Bob in the fifteen." "A jolly sight better. Bob knows how to be civil." "It is a crime to be poor," said Fullerton. "I hope I shall never commit it." "Well," said Clapperton, ignoring this bit of sarcasm, "if he was well enough off to buy a cake of soap once a term, it wouldn't be so bad. I believe when he wants a wash he goes down to Mrs Wisdom and borrows a bit of hers." "By the way, that reminds me," said Dangle; "did you fellows ever hear about Mrs Wisdom's boat? The lout had it out the other day in the rapids, and let it go over the falls, and it got smashed up." "What!" exclaimed everybody. "Do you mean," said Brinkman, "poor Widow Wisdom has lost her boat owing to that cad? Why, she'll be ruined? However is she to get a new one?"