Mr. Delermain entered, and the class settled down to work; but Ralph found himself pondering over that prize which was offered. True, figures were not his strongest point; but then he had a great belief that any one who sets his mind to a thing can manage to do it in time, and, somehow, he felt that it would be very nice to take that medal home and show it to Irene. So when recess was called, he managed to get hold of Warren and question him about it. "The Newlet," explained the monitor. "Well, it certainly is rather stiff. I suppose that I must go in for it, though I don't think I shall stand much chance. There will be Philmore and Standish of the Fifth; I don't know if Elgert will try for it. He thinks no end of his mathematics, but if you ask me, I think that a crib has a good deal to do with it." "A crib?" "Yes. You know. Don't know what a crib is!" as Ralph shook his head. "Oh, you sweet innocent, I thought I explained that to you before! It is a book with all the answers in it----" "That is cheating," said Ralph. And Warren nodded. "Of course it is; but it is frequently done, not only for exams, but for class work. Suppose a fellow is late in--been at cricket or anything--and he hasn't got time for prep., and don't want to lose his place, a crib comes in very handy; only some fellows always use 'em, because they are so lazy----" "Dobson, for instance," suggested Ralph. But Warren laughed, and shook his head. "Bless you, no. He is too lazy even to use a crib. He does not even pretend to do his lessons; and he is in pretty little danger of losing his place, seeing that it is always at the bottom of the class." "Well, I think it mean and dishonourable to use cribs," Ralph declared. "If I could not manage without that I would not manage at all." "It is pretty often done," Warren replied. He was not quite guiltless himself; and he felt a trifle ashamed of Ralph's honest wrath. "I suppose it is wrong; only a fellow does not think so at the time. But you were asking about the Newlet. It is stiff, but it is worth winning----" "I should like to try for it," murmured Ralph. And the monitor stared. "You! Well, there is nothing to prevent you from doing so; only you will have to grind awfully, if you don't crib----" "I shall not do that," interrupted Ralph firmly. "Once for all, let that be understood. If I cannot stand a chance without cheating, I will not go in for it." "Well, then, it is just grinding, that is all." "Grinding," repeated Ralph, raising his brows. And Warren laughed again. "Bless your heart! It is refreshing to find any one as innocent as you are. Grinding, my dear fellow, is working, swatting, putting in full time, giving up games and larks and story books, and working on every moment you have got to spare. It is living on mathematics all the time." "In plain words, it is working hard," laughed Ralph. "And if a thing is worth doing, it is worth working well for----"