The Triple Alliance

e, as a rule, a dull and uneventful period, which does not furnish

"new kids." But though, after the fame they had won at The Birches, it was rather humiliating at first to find themselves regarded as three nobodies, yet there was some compensation in the thought that, just as the smallest drummer-boy can point to a flag covered with "

in this world there is no lack either of lame dogs or of stiles, there is also a good supply of kindly-disposed persons who are ever ready to help th

th a pleasant, good-natured-looking face, patted Diggory on

t home? Quite well, I hope? Um, ah! Just so. That's what Dr. Denson always says," continued the speaker, without waiti

rades introdu

droom ar

ber

and young Hart. Come for a stroll,

hing on forbidden ground, and getting shouted at by irate seniors, and ordered to "Come out of that!" But by the time they had finished their round, and the clanging of a big bell summoned them t

a large gravelled quadrangle surrounded on all sides by high walls, broken by what appeared at first sight to b

it are studies; and that row of big windows on the right,

ere two folding-doors, and emerged upon an open space covered with

m in arm, or standing chatting together in small groups, pausing every now and then in their conversation to give c

the one beyond is where the big fellows play. The pavilion is over the hedge there, with the fl

ows go when they aren'

gg

all the rest have desks in the big school, and you hang about there, though of course, if you lik

of a plac

-boxes are kept. Come al

tice, unimportant in itself, but indicating a strong contrast in the manner of life at Ronleigh to what they had always been

e; "pick that up. What d'you

paper, stuffed them in his pocket, an

f the masters?

n, "that's Oaks; he'

got a blue tassel t

at's a

n't mind what you're about. Why, there are fourteen of them, all fellows in t

s only masters did th

n; "and when they tell you to do a thing, I'd advise you to

d then what was perhaps a still more trying ordeal-a long spell of sitting in the big schoolroom ans

as given for passing o

ry to gain the shelte

ant, waiting the arrival of boys who had not turned up on the first day. The remainder we

riends were glad to be allowed to undress in peace and quiet, and had scrambled saf

ink yourselves lucky that you're in a quiet room for a start. I know wh

that?" ask

e: they stuck your head in a basin and poured water over

old 'Thirsty' was the prefect for that passage, and he doesn't care tu'pence what fellows do. But Allingford's put a st

ttle from their first state of bewilderment amid their strange surroundings. They donned the school cap of black flann

gular after their comparatively quiet playground at The Birches. But whatever there was to awaken their interest out of doors, a thing was destined to happe

eir places at a back desk pointed out to them by the master on duty, and sat watching the stream of boys that poured i

, where they received a set of examination papers which were intended to test the amount of the

with the Latin grammar. Presently the door opened, and a voice, which they at once recognized as Dr. Denson's, said, "Mr. Ellesby, may I trouble you to step h

his pen in the ink, and addressing som

Denson say y

ks,

though they had received an electric shock, and

, with a rather sheepish expression on his face, somewhat similar to the one it had

Diggory. "Well, I'm jiggered!" whispered the latte

the three friends kept pretty close together. They were walking arm in arm about the quadrangle, giving expression

t their old enemy on neutral ground without some feeling of embarrassment. Youn

'd have thought of seein

rdial, and made some attempt to pass on their way; but the new-comer refused to see that he

Vance, "were you at Todderton these h

ther a bitter tone, "was when you came to spoil

he next instant, however, he laughed as though the recollectio

when that fool of a master of yours, Lake, or Blake, or whatever you

answered Jack. "You kn

d he's not a fool, b

Phillips a fool. I got sick of that beastly little school, as I expect you did of yours, and so I made

d regained their seat in the examination-room,

the Third Form, to which their friend Carton already belonged. Young Noaks was placed

of little animals, and Diggory and his companions coming into the classroom rather late, and before the entrance of the master, saw the

ely returned by boy number one; while as they bent down to pick up their scattered possessions, a third party, sitting on the form behind, made playful attempts to tread upon their fingers. Two rival factions in the rear of the room were waging war with paper darts; while a small, s

caused a false alarm, and in a mome

ad bumped his knee rushing from the table to his plac

ere asking for silen

l boy. "Look here, you haven't written your name on Watford's slate.-They must, mustn't

ands; "every new fellow has to write his name on that little slate on Mr. Watford's table, and he enters them from there into

l of tittering while they did so; but as a new boy is laughed at for nearly everything he does, they took no noti

g up with a frown. "I suppose you are determined to idle away your time and remain bottom of the class this term as you were last. I shall put your name down for some extra work. Let's see," he c

ed Mugford, "we put t

put your names down on my punishment slate fo

we thought we had to, so that you might h

er went a long way towards setting the Allia

Maxton, "and so are the others. I thought th

as he had done among the small fry at Horace House, The Upper Fourth voted him a "bounder," and nicknamed him "Moke." Afte

nce was serving out a ration of plum-cake to a select party, consisting of his two c

D'you remember that pork-pie we bagged from one

lark to bag what doesn't bel

that y

don't know if you're waiting about here to get som

riends with a lot of impudent young monkeys like you, all I can say is you'r

iend at last: he's picked up with Mouler. They'll make a nice pair, I should say.

ollege there was plenty of room for everybody to go his own way without fear of running his head into people whom he wished to avoid. Our three friends, however, seemed fated to find in the person of Noaks junior a p

rning of the term Noaks and Mouler were lounging across this open space, when Oaks, the prefect, emerged from the pavilion, carrying in his hand a pot of paint he had been mixing for the goal-posts, which were just being put

," said Noaks, nodding his head

t like to try,"

y n

ld jolly well pun

s set him on to do it. You speak to

es, and began throwing at the can, taking good c

moment to watch the contest. The paint had been mixed in an old fruit-tin, and at first sight i

chap for the third eleven next season-a fellow who can throw s

up some pebbles, and joined in the bombardment. The second shot brought the tin down with a great clatter, and a flood

" he cried; "w

ford, half crying; "I

ckhead?" cried the prefect, catching the small boy by the

ene. The new-comer, who, from the show of whisker at the side of his face and the tone of authority in which he spoke, seem

ened to see this little game; let's hea

ithout a word the stranger stepped up to Mou

own pocket, and do it jolly quick, too.-As for you," he added, turning to Noaks, "get a spade out of that place

ession on his face as the two seniors moved off, "you beastly young sneak. The

"he ought to have seen through that. But we must stand by him because of the

Diggory; "look o