As a rule--in stories--the person who owns that he is afraid gets unlimited applause and adulation, and feels a glow of conscious merit. But with Sheen it was otherwise. The admission made him if possible, more uncomfortable than he had been before. "Mitchell will be sick," said Stanning. Sheen said nothing. Stanning changed the subject. "Well, at anyrate," he said, "give us some tea. You seem to have been victualling for a siege." "I'm awfully sorry," said Sheen, turning a deeper shade of red and experiencing a redoubled attack of the warm shooting, "but the fact is, I'm waiting for Drummond." Stanning got up, and expressed his candid opinion of Drummond in a few words. He said more. He described Sheen, too in unflattering terms. "Look here," he said, "you may think it jolly fine to drop me just because you've got to know Drummond a bit, but you'll be sick enough that you've done it before you've finished." "It isn't that--" began Sheen. "I don't care what it is. You slink about trying to avoid me all day, and you won't do a thing I ask you to do." "But you see--" "Oh, shut up," said Stanning. III SHEEN RECEIVES VISITORS AND ADVICE While Sheen had been interviewing Stanning, in study twelve, farther down the passage, Linton and his friend Dunstable, who was in Day's house, were discussing ways and means. Like Stanning, Dunstable had demanded tea, and had been informed that there was none for him. "Well, you are a bright specimen, aren't you?" said Dunstable, seating himself on the table which should have been groaning under the weight of cake and biscuits. "I should like to know where you expect to go to. You lure me in here, and then have the cheek to tell me you haven't got anything to eat. What have you done with it all?" "There was half a cake--" "Bring it on." "Young Menzies bagged it after the match yesterday. His brother came down with the Oxford A team, and he had to give him tea in his study. Then there were some biscuits--" "What's the matter with biscuits? _They're_ all right. Bring them on. Biscuits forward. Show biscuits." "Menzies took them as well." Dunstable eyed him sorrowfully. "You always were a bit of a maniac," he said, "but I never thought you were quite such a complete gibberer as to let Menzies get away with all your grub. Well, the only thing to do is to touch him for tea. He owes us one. Come on." They proceeded down the passage and stopped at the door of study three. "Hullo!" said Menzies, as they entered. "We've come to tea," said Dunstable. "Cut the satisfying sandwich. Let's see a little more of that hissing urn of yours, Menzies. Bustle about, and be the dashing host." "I wasn't expecting you." "I can't help your troubles," said Dunstable. "I've not got anything. I was thinking of coming to you, Linton." "Where's that cake?" "Finished. My brother simply walked into it."