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Updated: June 9, 2025
With Parrett's boat at the head of the river, and he its stroke, he would at any rate have one claim on the obedience of Willoughby which nobody could gainsay. It was the Saturday before the boat-race, and the excitement of Willoughby was working up every hour.
No reference was made to the state of affairs in Parrett's, or to the rivalries of the two captains. That the doctor knew all about these matters no one doubted, but he took the wise course of leaving them to right themselves, and at the same time of making it very clear what his opinions were of the effect of disunion and divided interest in a great public school.
"It is merely this," said Wibberly, rapidly, and giving no time for any objection to be raised on the point of order. "I wish to ask Mr Riddell whether he has found out yet who cut the rudder-line of Parrett's boat at the boat-race, or whether he suspects anybody, and, if so, whom?" At this unlooked-for question a hubbub immediately arose.
"All serene." "Had we better write?" asked Riddell. "No; why? What's the use of looking ashamed?" said Fairbairn; "let's go to them. Bloomfield's sure to be in his study." The two boys went accordingly, and found the Parrett's captain in his study along with Game and Ashley. It was rarely indeed that the schoolhouse seniors penetrated uninvited into the headquarters of their rivals.
After this the party waited gloomily till seven o'clock came, and then, in decidedly low spirits, rose in a body and repaired to Mr Parrett's study. Had they been aware of the actual state of that amiable athlete's mind from the moment they last saw him, handkerchief in mouth, hurrying down the passage, till now, their trepidation would have been considerably relieved.
The invaders were evidently walking in step and trying to imitate the heavy walk of some senior, so as to give no suspicion of their purpose. The besieged smiled knowingly at one another, glanced up at the suspended jug, and then softly rising with their weapons at the ready, calmly awaited the assault. Whoever knew a set of Parrett's juniors caught napping?
Riddell did not exactly know what to say. He could not say that the Parrett's fellows had "pulled together" for the good of the school, so he said nothing. "I'm getting rather sick of it," continued Bloomfield, digging his hands in his pockets. "So am I," said the captain. "You know," said Bloomfield, "it was that wretched boat-race affair which made things as bad as they were.
"Mr Riddell means Mr Parrett's, I presume?" asked Mrs Patrick in her sweetest tones, looking hard at the speaker, and emphasising the "Mr" "I beg your pardon," he said, "I'm sorry." "We shall miss Wyndham," said the doctor. "Yes, thank you," replied Riddell, who at that moment was dodging vaguely in front of Miss Stringer as she stood solemnly waiting to get past him to the tea-table.
What Mr Parrett's reflections may have been during the few seconds which immediately followed no one ever found out. But, whatever they were, it is safe to say they were as nothing compared with the horror and terror of the youthful malefactors as they looked on and saw what they had done.
"Not a bit," said Wyndham; "I wish to goodness there was. Some fool, I expect, who's been betting against Parrett's." "I could show you a fool who's been betting on Parrett's," said Silk, "and who's decidedly up a tree now! I say, young 'un, I suppose you couldn't lend me a sov. till the end of the term?" "I've only got half-a-sov. in the world," said Wyndham.
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