United States or Austria ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For the High Jump, which this year, for some reason or other, had been looked forward to as one of the principal events, the signature of Barnworth stood boldly underneath the dreaded names of Smedley and Clipstone. More than that, Wake, too, had entered himself in the lists against these great competitors. The entries for the Mile were scarcely less interesting.
He envied neither Smedley his gold medal nor Barnworth his Cavendish scholarship. He condoled patronisingly with Ainger on not having quite beaten the captain of the school, and virtually hinted to Wake, who had won the first remove into the Sixth, that, if he cared to come and sit at his feet, he might be able to put him up to a thing or two for Plumtre medal next Christmas.
Meanwhile he would go to sleep. The discussion in the captain's room had not been unanimous. "Well," said Felgate, when Ainger returned, "how do you like him?" "I don't fancy I shall get on with him." "Poor beggar!" drawled Barnworth. "I thought he might have been a good deal worse, myself." "So did I," said Stafford. "He was quite shy." "No wonder, considering who his visitors were.
Ainger, Barnworth, Stafford, and Felgate, requesting the pleasure of their company at 7.30 in the new master's rooms. The messenger had an easy task, for, oddly enough, he found the four gentlemen in question assembled in Ainger's study. They were, in fact, discussing their new house-master when his four little missives were placed in their hands. "What's the joke now, Mercury?" asked Barnworth.
"What does he want to chat about, I wonder?" said Stafford. "The weather, of course!" growled Barnworth; "what else is there?" Stafford coloured up as usual when anyone laughed at him. "He wants to get us to take the oath of allegiance, you fellows," said Felgate. "`Will you walk into my parlour? said the spider to the fly, that's what he means. I think we'd better not go."
Barnworth there being no more chairs in the room sat as gracefully as he could on the corner of the table. "I thought it would be well," began Railsford, still dallying with the poker "won't you bring your chair in nearer, Stafford?" Stafford manoeuvred his chair in between Ainger and Felgate. "I thought it would not be a bad thing haven't you a chair, Barnworth? dear me!
Staff, do you mind bringing him?" "The one thing to do," said Barnworth, while the messenger was gone, "is to frighten it out of him. Nothing else will do." "Well," said Ainger, "if you think so. You must back me up, though." After a long interval, Stafford returned to say that Munger was in bed and refused to get up. "Good," said Barnworth; "I like that.
"It's not Felgate," said Ainger, "for he has burnt his fingers in trying to fix it on Railsford himself; and it he was the real culprit, you may depend on it he'd have kept very quiet." "Munger has kept quiet," said Barnworth. "Munger! Why, he's a fool and a coward both. He could never have done such a thing." "Let's ask him. I'll tell you why I mentioned him. I never thought of it till now.
Ainger and Barnworth, it was plain to see, had been informed of all that had happened, and were in a more warlike mood even than their two companions. "I hear," said Railsford, "that there was a disturbance in the house while I was away for a short time this evening. Ainger and Barnworth of course were out too, but I should like to hear from you, Stafford and Felgate, what it was all about."
"Felgate may do his best if someone is against him, but he won't if he's the only man in for us. He has no interest in sports." Railsford's face clouded. "Is Stafford the best man to enter? Should not you or Barnworth go in?" "I think not, sir. Stafford made some good practice yesterday, and can beat the School record as it is."
Word Of The Day