"Steady, man, this is a great idea. Let's buy enough for the whole platoon. It will be a gorgeous sight! Let's fetch Betteridge." Flinging prefectorial dignity to the winds, they rushed down to the studies. "Betteridge, you've got to let us draw upon the House funds for a good cause." They poured out the idea. Betteridge was enthusiastic. For six shillings they bought forty pairs of coloured laces. At twelve-thirty next morning a huge crowd lined up under the lindens to watch the School House parade. Rumour had flown round. It was a noble spectacle. Each section wore a different coloured shoe-lace. Gordon's wore pale blue, Rudd's pink, Foster's green, and Collin's orange. Everyone was shaking with laughter. Betteridge formed the platoon up in line facing the School House dormitories; sooner or later Rogers would pass by on his way from the common room. At last he was sighted turning the corner of the Chief's drive. Half the school had assembled by the gates. "Private Morgan," shouted Betteridge, "fall out and do up your shoe-lace. "Remainder--present ARMS!" Rogers was far too self-satisfied and certain of his own importance to see that the demonstration was meant for him. But the school saw it, and so did certain members of the staff, who made everything quite clear to Rogers that afternoon. Finally, the Chief learnt of the affair. Betteridge got a lecture on military discipline and on prefectorial dignity. But a good many of the younger masters thoroughly enjoyed the rag, and the story of the coloured shoe-laces is still recounted in common room, when Rogers has made himself unusually tedious about his own virtues and his cleverness in scoring off his enemies. CHAPTER III: ROMANCE The Tonford match was a sad travesty of Fernhurst football. The school lost by over forty points. Gordon got his "Seconds," in company with nearly the entire Fifteen. He was not very elated. These things had lost their value. Still, it was as well to have them. The school authorities then came to the conclusion that the expense of travelling was too great during war-time, and the Dulbridge match was scratched. The Fifteen continued to play uppers. There was nothing to train for. There was no chance of there being any matches, but the same routine went on. It was in this period of depression that Gordon began to take an interest in Morcombe. Morcombe was considerably Gordon's junior; not so much in years--there was, as a matter of fact, only a few months between them--as in position. Morcombe had come late; had made little mark at either footer or cricket; and had drifted into the Army class, where, owing to private tuition and extra hours, he found himself somewhat "out of it" in the House. In hall he used to sit at the top of the day-room table.