The White Feather

imaginary accuser; and he had built up a very sound, thoughtful, and logical series of arguments to show that he was not only not to blame for what he had don

into a fight with Albert and friends. Besides, why should he be expected to join in whenever he saw a couple of fellows fighting? It wasn't reasonable. It was no business of his. Why

n one is walking briskly, and that which comes when one thinks the thing over coldly. As he sat there, the wall of defenc

He had been afraid, and had shown it. And he had shown it when, in a sense, he was repres

ences of that failure in the hour of need. He had disgraced himself. He

by another. This time he took a more reasonable view of the affair. It occurred to him that there was a chance that his defection had passed unnot

nded. The ten minutes of grace which followed the ringing of the

Drummond's study. Somebody w

ked at

h felt dry. He could not think how to begin. He noticed that Drummond's face was unmarked. Loo

mmon

lowered

calmly, as if he were making some conventio

came t

said Drum

. Drummond raised his b

left t

rley's poem, one of his speaking eyes was sable. The swelling of his lip was increased. There was a deep red bruise

nton, and went o

. Exit Albert-sweep him up. You gave him enough to last him for the rest of the term. I couldn't tackle the brute. He's as strong as a horse. My word, i

's up

hap with you wh

ch c

t I saw s

at so much tea.

wasn't

said D

She

ably. "How many more times

nton, "I only asked.

ho

he

O

ht be so

ght. But I w

I can hardly see. Well,

mond. "You know your

back to hi

him. So did Dunstable. I'll cut out and ask him about it after prep. If he really was there, and cut

after preparation, ref

time, and wasn't paying much attention to anything, except that long, thin bargee with the bowler. I wish those men would

bout this? You can't

t of the doubt. What does Drumm

e says he

t an ass you are. If Drummo

e's simply h

It's no good bothering about

a beastly thing

et about? Surely the best thing you can d

ing ought t

doesn't make him very much worse. Besides, he'll probably be sick enough on his own ac

did. I could s

dness' sake let

But I shal

stence without your bright conversation. It doesn't bear thinking of. You do look

n, "will be about three times its ordinary size t

who was standing at his house gate imbibing fre

you look a wreck, don't you!-I say,

bout my

heen, you know. Stanning

too!" exclaimed Li

that? Stanning said he did, but I wouldn't beli

cutcheon of Seymour's was definitely blotted. The name of the house was being held up to scorn in Appleby's probably everywhere else as well. I

he had grasped the fact that here, ready-made, was his chance of working off his grudge against him. All he had to do was to spread the news abroad, and the school would do the rest. On his return from the town he had mentioned the fac

r day-room was crimson in the face and incoherent. The demeanour of a junior i

e kicked," shr

by those kids in Dext

he house!" th

things at his door

situated, and, with divers groans and howls, the junior da

iomatic Greek verse the words: "The Days of Peace and Slumberous calm have fled", and this corroboration of the statement annoyed him to the extent of causing him to dash out and sow lines among the

that his shortcomings were public property. The word "Funk!" shouted through hi

et the latter at the door of the study. And perhaps he was now telling it to the rest of the house. Of all the mixed sens

rmitory, and Mr Seymour had fancied that it might, perhaps, be something of a handful for a single prefect. As a matter of fact, however, Drummond, who was in charge, had shown early in the

n Sheen came in, the room was full. Drummond was in bed, reading his nove

farther corner of the room. Sheen flushed, and walked t

aid Drummond, without l

Only two or three of the

ed across the

and get into bed

d. He went on wit

gned in dor