The thing was beyond a doubt; and as the Fifth sat there in judgment, a sense of shame and humiliation came over them, to which many of them were unused. "I know this," said Ricketts, giving utterance to what was passing in the minds of nearly all his class-fellows, "I'd sooner have lost the scholarship twenty times over than win it like this." "Precious fine glory it will be if we do get it!" said Braddy. "Unless Wray wins," suggested Ricketts. "No such luck as that, I'm afraid," said Bullinger. "That's just the worst of it. He's not only disgraced us, but he's swindled his best friend. It's a blackguard shame!" added he, fiercely. "At any rate, Loman is out of it, from what I hear; he got regularly stuck in the exam." "I tell you," said Ricketts, "I'd sooner have had Loman take the scholarship and our two men nowhere at all, than this." There was nothing more than this to be said, assuredly, to prove the disgust of the Fifth at the conduct of their class-fellow. "I suppose Greenfield will have the grace to confess it, now it's all come out," said Ricketts. "If he doesn't I fancy we can promise him a pretty hot time of it among us," said Braddy. One or two laughed at this, but to most of those present the matter was past a joke. For it must be said of the Dominicans--and I think it may be said of a good many English public schoolboys besides--that, however foolish they may have been in other respects, however riotous, however jealous of one another, however well satisfied with themselves, a point of honour was a point which they all took seriously to heart. They could forgive a schoolfellow for doing a disobedient act sometimes, or perhaps even a vicious act, but a cowardly or dishonourable action was a thing which nothing would excuse, and which they felt not only a disgrace to the boy perpetrating it, but a disgrace put upon themselves. Had Oliver been the most popular boy in the school it would have been all the same. As it was, he was a long way from being the most popular. He never took any pains to win the good opinion of his fellows. When, by means of some achievement in which he excelled, he had contrived (as in the case of the cricket match last term) to bring glory on his school and to make himself a hero in the eyes of Saint Dominic's, he had been wont to take the applause bestowed on him with the utmost indifference, which some might even construe into contempt. And in precisely the same spirit would he take the displeasure which he now and then managed to incur. Boys don't like this. It irritates them to see their praise or blame made little of; and for this reason, if for no other, Oliver would hardly have been a favourite.