Mr Winget, the hatter, rather disappointed me by offering me nothing more than his sincere thanks for the settlement of his little bill. He might at least, I thought, have offered me a mourning hatband or a new school ribbon. His bill, however, was only five shillings, so probably the profit did not permit of any gratuitous allowance in recognition of my distinguished services. I was consoled, however, by Mr Ringstead, the games man, who presented me with a net-bag for holding tennis balls, and urged me, whenever I wanted any little thing in the way of repairs to bats, or fresh spikes to my running shoes, to let him know. It was all very pleasant, and I grieve to say that the shady side of all this petty bribery and corruption never once occurred to my simple mind. I returned to school covered with self-satisfaction, and virtuously clutching in my hand half-a-crown, the final change out of the "fiver." This in due course I put in an envelope, together with the batch of receipts, and laid on Crofter's table after morning school, with the laconic message under the flap, "All right, T.J. iv." I was far too knowing to let out my secret to the Philosophers, whose agitation and indignation at Tempest's probable expulsion knew no bounds and somewhat amused me. "Look here, Sarah," said Langrish, as I entered for the first time after my disgrace of the previous day--I knew my comrades well enough to be sure they would like to see me--"we all know you're about the beastliest, howlingest cad in Low Heath; so that's all right." "I'm glad you think so." "Yes, and you've been told to clear out, as it's your fault Tempest's expelled." "Is it? That's all you know," said I. "Yes, and you're kicked out of the Philosophers, and we're going to invite Dicky Brown to join us. _He's_ a decent chap." This was rather a blow. "I thought no town-boys were eligible." "No cads are; that's why you're out of it." "Look here--" said I. "We're not going to look here. You can cut and go, and sit on the stairs. We don't want you in here, do we, you chaps?" "Rather not, unless we've got our kicking boots on." "All right," said I, feeling I must play one or two of my trumps. "I sha'n't tell you what I was going to." "Pooh, we know all about it," said Coxhead. But it was plain by the way they had all pricked their ears they did not. "Oh, if you know, it's all right. But you don't know the latest." "We don't want to, unless it's that old Tempest has got off." "That's just what it is," said I triumphantly. "Good old Sarah! how do you know?" "Never mind, it's a secret; but it's a fact, honour bright." "What, has he paid all his bills?" "They're all paid, I know that." "I suppose," said Langrish, "as that motion about Sarah being kicked out wasn't properly seconded, it's off, isn't it?" "Does any gentleman second the motion?" said Coxhead, glancing round the assembled Philosophers. No one seconded it.