The Cock-House at Fellsgarth Part 57

"I know what it is. They're going to give the chaps back their subscriptions. What a run there'll be on the shop directly after!"

This last rumour was industriously put about by the juniors, and was believed in a good many quarters.

A new diversion, however, served to put aside speculation for a time.

"Hullo, who's that lout?" asked D'Arcy, as he and Wally, having shaken off the others for a season, were "taking a cool," arm in arm near the playing-field gate.

The object of this remark was a stalwart, middle-aged, labouring man, who carried an American cloth bag in his hand, and, to judge by the mud on his garments, had travelled some distance. He was trying to open the gate into the field, and on seeing our two juniors beckoned to them inquiringly.

"You can't get in there," said Wally. "You'll have to go to the other gate at the Watch-Tower."

"Is this here Fellsgarth School, young master?" said the man.

"Rather," replied Wally.

"Is the governor at home!"

"Who--Ringwood? I don't know; they'll tell you at the gate."

"He's come to mend the door of your young brother's room, I expect,"

said D'Arcy. "I hope he won't bung up the squirt-hole while he's about it."

"No. I say, carpenter," said Wally, as the man was about to turn off in the direction of the other gate, "when you mend that door in Forder's, make it strong, do you hear? It gets kicked at rather by fellows. And don't bung--"

"Carpenter? I ain't no carpenter. I want to see the governor."

Gruffly as the man spoke, he evidently regarded the two young gentlemen as persons of some distinction, and lingered a moment longer to ask another question.

"Beg your pardon, young gents," said he; "but you don't chance to know if Alf Rollitt has come back?"

They gazed at him in amazement.

"Rollitt? no. Do _you_ know where he is, I say?"

"Not come back?" said the man, hoa.r.s.ely. "I made sure as he'd be back afore now."

"Do you know where he is?" repeated Wally.

"Not me--he's bound to be somewheres. But the missus, she wouldn't rest till I come and see."

"The missus! I say, do you _know_ Rollitt?"

"Well, they do say it's a wise father as don't know his own child."

"What! Are _you_ Rollitt's father?" asked they, glancing involuntarily at the shabby clothes and rough, weatherbeaten face.

"Nothing to be ashamed of, are it?" said the stranger. "'Tain't my Alf's fault I ain't in gents' togs."

This rebuke abashed our two juniors considerably.

"Rather not," said Wally. "Our lot's backing Rollitt up, you know.

We've been out to look for him, haven't we, D'Arcy?"

"Of course we have; good old Rollitt," said D'Arcy.

"Thank you kindly, young gents," said Mr Rollitt, who seemed rather dazed. "I ain't no scholar, nor no gent either. But my boy Alf's a good boy, and he don't mean no disrespect to the likes of you by running away. He's bound to be somewheres."

"I say," said Wally, "if you come round to the other gate, you can get in--we'll show you where Ringwood's house is."

"Tell you what," said he to D'Arcy, as the two boys went back by the field to meet him, "he doesn't seem a bad sort of chap--it won't do to let my young brother Percy and those Modern cads get hold of him. I vote we nurse him on our side while he's here."

"All serene," said D'Arcy. "Ask him to tea after the meeting."

"I suppose we shall have to let those other chaps be in it too,"

suggested Wally dubiously, after a moment.

"Better. We'll all see him through together."

The spectacle of two juniors, looking very important, carefully conducting an anxious-faced labouring man across the School Green, was enough to rouse a little curiosity. And when presently the bodyguard, after sundry whispered communications, increased from two to nine, who marched three in front, two behind, and two on either side of their celebrity, speculation became active and warm.

The escort glared defiantly at any one who ventured to approach the group; but when it was observed that they made straight for the doctor's house, and one by one shook hands with the visitor on the doorstep, there was very little doubt left as to who the stranger might be.

"Mind you come to tea," said Wally, as they parted.

"Don't you make no mistake, I'll be there," said the guest.

Work in school that morning dragged heavily. The impending meeting was perplexing the minds of not a few. The phenomenon of Yorke's and Clapperton's names appended to the same doc.u.ment puzzled boys who still kept alive the animosity which had wrecked the School clubs earlier in he term and brought the sports to a deadlock. And the addition of the names of the captains of the other two houses made it evident that the whole School was concerned in the business. This, coupled with the mystery of Rollitt's disappearance, and the now notorious internecine feuds of the Modern seniors, gave promise of one of the biggest meetings ever held in Hall.

As to the juniors, they had a treble care on their mind. First, the meeting, and the expected refunding of the Club subscriptions; second, the consequent run on the shop; and third, the "small and early"

in Wally's study afterwards to meet A. Rollitt, Senior, Esq.

However, despite all these cares, the morning's work was got through, the dreaded impositions were avoided, and when the midday meal was ended a general rush was made for the familiar benches in Hall.

The state of doubt every one was in operated adversely to the usual cheering. Fellows didn't know whom they were expected to cheer.

Dangle, for instance, pale and sullen,--were the Moderns expected to cheer him? The Cla.s.sics hissed him, which was one reason why his own house should applaud. But then, if they cheered Dangle, how should they do about Clapperton, who had fought Dangle a week ago? They got over the difficulty by doing neither, but starting party cries which they could safely cheer; and chaffing everybody all round.

Punctually at three, Yorke rose and said they no doubt were curious to know what the meeting was called for. It was called for one or two purposes. The first was to see if they could revive the School clubs.

(Cheers.) He wasn't going to say a word of ancient history.

(Laughter.) But as they stood now, they had a lot of fellows anxious to play, they had the materials for as good a fifteen this winter, and as good an eleven next spring (cheers), as any school in the country; and yet the playing-fields stood idle, and the name of Fellsgarth was dropping out of all the records. They had had enough of that sort of thing. Every one was sick of it. Fellows had agreed with him when it was proposed to disband the clubs; he hoped they would agree with him now that the time had come for reviving them. But there was to be a difference. The clubs were not to be open to everybody, as heretofore.

They didn't want everybody. (Hear, hear, from Wally, D'Arcy, Ashby, and Fisher, as they pointed across to the Modern juniors.) They only wanted fellows who would play and _could_ play; as to the former, that of course would be decided by the fellow himself, who would send in an application to the committee. As to the latter, that would be decided by the captain. (Oh!) Yes, by the captain. What's the good of a captain if he's not to decide a matter like that? And if the fellow is not satisfied with the captain's decision, he may appeal to Mr Stratton, the new president of the club. (Cheers.) There's nothing to prevent any one who plays his best joining--there's nothing to prevent those youngsters at the end of the room, who are kicking up such a row, joining the clubs, as long as they work hard in the field. (Cheers and laughter.) The fellows who won't be eligible are the louts, and those who can play but won't. (Loud cheers.)

Clapperton rose to second the motion. He had lost a great deal of his "side" during the last few days, and though he looked in better tiff than he had done lately, the present occasion was evidently an effort.

He said: "Yorke has made a generous speech. He avoided ancient history, and therefore did not go into the reason why the clubs were dissolved and the School sports came to smash. I could tell you--but what's the use? You all know. Yorke said to me before the meeting, `Let bygones be bygones, old man--we were all to blame--bury the hatchet--let's get right for the future.' Gentlemen, there was one fellow who was not to blame. His name was _not_ Clapperton. It was Yorke." (Loud cheers.) "But I say with him, if you let me, `Bury the hatchet.'" (Cheers.) "And to prove it, I beg to hand in my name to the committee for election. I answer for myself that I am willing to play; and if the captain decides that I can play," (laughter), "why, I will play." (Loud applause.)

Fullerton and Corder both sprang up to support the motion. The former made way for Corder, who merely wished to say how delighted he was. He also voted for the burying of the hatchet. He had minded being stopped football more than anything else. He gave in his name. He would play, and he might tell them that the captain had already told him he could play. (Laughter, and cries of "Blow your own trumpet.") All right--it was the only thing he had to be c.o.c.ky about; and he meant to be c.o.c.ky.

He supported the motion. (Cheers.)

Fullerton handed in his name, and was very glad to think that he and his old friend Clapperton would have a chance of running up the field again together. ("If you're elected!" from the end of the room, and laughter.) Oh, of course, if he was elected. He hoped when the gentleman down there was captain, fifty years hence, he would deal as liberally with candidates as he was sure Yorke would deal now.

(Laughter, at Wally's expense.)