Clarke saw he was beaten, and turned away. As he walked down the passage he heard a roar of laughter coming from Study No. 1. The story was all round the House in half-an-hour, and on his way down to prayers Clarke heard FitzMorris say before a whole crowd: "You are a great fellow, Meredith. That's the way to keep these upstarts in order." That night there was merriment in the games study, and Ferguson advised Clarke to let the matter drop. "After all, you know, it's not your business." And perhaps Clarke realised that Ferguson was for once right. But he had to go on; it was very hard, though. He had been quite popular before he was head of the House. He wished he had left a year ago. For it is hard to be hated where one loves. And Clarke, well as he loved Fernhurst, loved the House a hundred times more. * * * * * "Well played, Caruthers; jolly good knock." "Well done, Caruthers!" Lovelace and Mansell banged excitedly into Gordon's study the evening after the Colts match _v._ Murchester. Gordon had made thirty-seven on a wet wicket, and a defeat by over a hundred runs was no fault of his. He had gone in first wicket down, and stayed till the close. "It was splendid! You ought to be a cert. for your Colts' cap. 'The Bull' was fearfully bucked." "Oh, I don't know; it was not so very much." In his heart of hearts Gordon was pretty certain he would get his cap; but it would never do to show what he thought. "Oh, rot, my good man," burst out Lovelace. "You didn't give a chance after the first over. And, by Jove, that was a bit of luck then." "Yes, you know, I have a good deal of luck one way and another. I haven't got in a single row yet; and I am always being missed." "And some fellows have no luck at all. Now Foster was batting beautifully before he was run out; never saw such a scandalous mix-up. All the other man's fault. He bowled well, too. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if he didn't get his Colts' cap. I know 'the Bull' likes him." "Do you think so?" said Gordon. He did not know why, but he rather hoped Foster would not get his cap. He himself would be captain of A-K Junior next year. It would be better if he was obviously senior to Foster. He was going to be the match-winning factor; and, so far as seniority goes, there is not much to choose between men who get their colours on the same day. "Of course he won't if you don't," Mansell said, "but I think he's worth it. I say, let's have a feed to-night. There's just time before hall to order some stuff. Lovelace, rush off to the tuck-shop, and put it down to my account."