Acton's Feud: A Public School Story

Biffen's out of the mire, Bourne was finding out the whole un

and chose fellows to play in the weekly matches, and if any one of them showed special talent he was, of course, retained, and by-and-by the c

nal promotion of fellows into the eleven, however, rested with the captain alone, and when he considered

tty well the whole school swarmed round the pavilion, and when the new member came out in all the glory of his new blue and silver he

en introduced, the last cap was always given so that when the schoo

eting to choose the eleven against "The Cognoscenti" Mivart said, "Well, Bourne, we've got y

Vercoe. "He can

or an age-barring Phil,

o fight over, as usual. My c

oberts. Mine

e's a w

against the Cognoscenti went on

d I not better tell the fellows that they may elect Acton for our school fixtures,

iving caps away; that is your business entirely. Besides, who know

tle game. Take my word for it, he'll turn out on every blessed occa

the last match-we'll hope so, anyhow; and until the last cap is

the evil day, Carr," sa

day to p

ooner or later, and might as well have it soon. Acton's turn-so said the school would come later, though Biffen's

il about? One might think he was blind in his right eye and straddled in his left. We'll

house they had a man in the eleven. But they gasped as Chalmers came out of the pavilion with his blue and silver cap on his curls. "That ass Bourn

l-and I was glad to see it-the school had faith in Phil; they counted on justice being done, as it were, in the last laps. No one mentioned a word to him about the intense curiosity and even anx

showed their feelings unmistakably. Place was cheered by Merishall's, but not overwhelmingly, and from the other houses there was an ominous silence. Place, as he trotted out, looked rather puzzled, and a bit undecided how

ace! You're all right, a

for the first time since he had been captain, Phil walked down the steps without a friendly cheer. I think even now the old school behaved itself very well-the fellows were not behind the scen

The Steps Without

gedly, and with meaning, elected the only player there was to elect, and Acton signified that he was willing to play. Bourne, as usual, was there, and no one felt more than he the air of distrust and constraint which hung over the meeting. When Acton was

llows cheered him till they were hoarse. The minute the whistle blew, like one man the whole school swarmed round the pavilion. The que

hment, there was consternation. Whatever did it mean? Acton smiled good-naturedly at the school as they cheered him to the echo, and hurried unconcernedly along. The others of the eleven came out dejectedly, and filed up the hill

and as I joined him and we walked up tog

n, I had never

te to Worcester offerin

said, "Bourne has offered me the place-th

said Acto

isn't the best if you're out of it. Bourne has always been a most impartial fellow up to this date, so this litt

e eleven," said Acton with a light

d Dick, hu

nine fellows, and sai

to Bourne. A round robi

vart. "Draw one

produced th

aptain to offer it him unless there be very good reasons for not doing so. We would suggest that if John Acton isn't to have the cap he be told the reason. The undersigned do not wish

Dick," said Chalmers. "W

I am undeservedly offered the cap, and

th, with all legal formality, the round robin was signed by the te

ithin fiv

Worc

There are good reasons for not doing so, and I have already told Acton the reasons. Ple

sinc

p Bou

olt among the fello

back to Acton,

t this,

tching him anxiously, saw him bite his lips with rage; for

w why you are no

explain something, or else Bourne

of course, I never bargained for his keeping his word; and when

shed tale, for, speaking out, Phil Bourne has always passed for a decent, level fellow. Th

had with Shannon's scratch

d

ce anything a

ur eyes a bit

play ro

entle; but you aren't that as a rul

'm too rough. It's bad form, pace Bourne, t

the exp

paused diplomatically for a moment-

tty speedily that we can't stand rot of this

don't, some other house will get it. Biffen's

do, by

tisfaction of keeping ou

is conversation with Acton, and they pressed him to go and see

ain anything. Not even to you. But I

ht fellow isn't getting it. By the way, Bourne, you'll not be very sweet to the school g

would be. I kne

e square thing. Let us have the rea

orcester,

night,

d ni

was immovable in his decision can be imagined. Some were inclined to ta

ext, gentlemen? We won't be able to blow our own noses without his permission. Keep the masters

chool. Did Bourne expect his team to play footer as though it were a game of croquet? Were drawing-room manners to be introduced on to the Acres' clay? Were the famous eleven of St. Amory's to amble about, like a swarm of bread-and-butter misses? One wit suggested wadded coats and respirators. Acton rough, indeed! Phil Bourne must be an embodiment of his grandmother, then! Most of the fags in Biffen's ho

hool or out, though, of course, Phil minded this not at all. When the Carthusians were played, Acton spent the afternoon reading with Raven, whose exam, was now very near; and, whilst the two were grinding out all th

than any two others-and it was plain that Dick, though a useful fellow, could not bottle up the forwa

in as to the result. Three put in an appearance-Vercoe, Baines, and Roberts-and in place of the burly forms of the rest of the St. Amory's eleven, the sylph-like figures of

was not

ied along to chapel the next day no one hooked in with him, as had

ry's School consigned