The Willoughby Captains Part 70

"All serene," said Telson; "if it is a row, of course it will come off in any case. And we may as well get our breakfast somewhere."

With which philosophical resolve the matter had been settled, and the amiable pair parted to meet next morning after chapel.

Riddell spared himself the embarra.s.sment of waiting to escort his guests to the festive board, and hurried off in advance to see that the preparations were duly made in their honour.

He caught Cusack wistfully eyeing the unwonted array of good things on the table, and evidently speculating as to who the favoured guests were to be. It was with some difficulty that the captain got him sent off to his own breakfast in the big hall, half bribed thereto by the promise of a reversion of the coming feast.

Then, feeling quite exhausted by his morning's excitement, he sat down and awaited his visitors.

They arrived in due time; still, to judge of their leisurely approach and their languid knock, a little suspicious of the whole affair. But the moment the door opened, and their eyes fell on the table, their manner changed to one of the most amiable briskness.

"Good-morning," said Riddell, who, in the presence of the greater attractions on the table, ran considerable risk of being overlooked altogether.

"Good-morning," cried the boys, suddenly roused by his voice to a sense of their social duty.

"Awfully brickish of you to ask us round," said Telson.

"Rather," chimed in Parson.

"I'm glad you came," said the captain. "We may as well have breakfast.

Telson, have you forgotten how to boil eggs?"

Telson said emphatically he had not, and proceeded forthwith to give practical proof of his cunning, while Parson volunteered his aid in cutting up the bread, and b.u.t.tering the toast.

In due time the preliminaries were all got through, and the trio sat down to partake of the reward of their toil.

Riddell could not thank his stars sufficiently that he had thought of embellis.h.i.+ng his feast with the few luxuries from Fairbairn's cupboard.

Nothing could exceed the good-humour of the two juniors as one delicacy after another unfolded its charms and invited their attention. They accompanied their exertions with a running fire of chat and chaff, which left Riddell very little to do except gently to steer the conversation round towards the point for which this merry meeting was designed.

"Frightful job to get old Parson to turn up," said Telson, taking his fourth go-in of potted meat; "he thought you were going to row him about that s.h.i.+ndy in the Parliament!"

"No, I didn't," rejoined Parson, pus.h.i.+ng up his cup for more tea. "It was you said that about blowing up us Skyrockets."

"What a howling cram," said Telson. "I never make bad jokes. You know, Riddell, it was Parson stuck us up to that business. He's always at the bottom of the rows."

Parson laughed at this compliment.

"You mean I always _get_ into the rows," said he.

"Anyhow, I don't suppose the Skyrockets will show up again this term,"

said Telson.

"They certainly did not get much encouragement last time," said Riddell, laughing. "You know I don't think you fellows do yourselves justice in things like that. Fellows get to think the only thing you're good at is a row."

"Fact is," said Parson, "Telson thought we'd been so frightfully snubbed this term, we kids, that he said we ought to stick up for ourselves."

"I said that?" cried Telson. "Why, you know it was you said it!"

"By the way," said Parson, "wasn't there to be a special meeting of the House to-day, for something or other?"

Telson looked rather uncomfortable, and then said, "Yes, I heard so. I fancy it's about you, somehow," added he, addressing Riddell.

"About me?" asked the captain.

"Yes--to kick you out, or something," said Telson; "but Parson and I mean to go and vote against it."

This was news to Riddell, and rather astonis.h.i.+ng news too.

"To kick me out?" he asked. "What for?"

"Oh, you know," said Parson. "It's some bosh about that boat-race affair. Some of the chaps think you are mixed up in it, but of course it's all a cram. I've told them so more than once."

"It's all those Parrett's cads," said Telson, taking up the matter from a schoolhouse point of view. "They're riled about the race, and about the cricket-match, and everything else, and try to make out every one's cheating."

"Well, some one must have been cheating," said Parson, a trifle warmly, "when he cut my rudder-lines; and he's not likely to be one of _our_ fellows--much more likely to be a schoolhouse cad!"

"I'll fight you, you know, Parson!" put in Telson.

Riddell saw it was time to interfere. The conversation was drifting into an unprofitable channel, from which it would scarcely work its way out una.s.sisted.

What he wanted was to find out whether there was any truth in the explanation which the diary afforded of young Wyndham's conduct, and he was a long way from that yet.

"Have some more cake, Telson," said he, by way of changing the subject.

Telson cheerfully accepted the invitation, while Parson, to spare his host the trouble of pressing him to take an apple, helped himself.

Then when they were well started once more the captain said, "Who's going to win the juniors' match, Parson? Our fellows quite think they are."

"Yes," said Parson, contemptuously; "I heard they had cheek enough to say so. But they'll be disappointed for once."

"Well," said Riddell, "they've been practising pretty steadily of late.

They're not to be despised. Whatever has become of the juniors' eleven in the schoolhouse, Telson?"

"Can't make out," replied Telson; "they're an awful set of louts this year; only one or two good men in the lot. I don't think they can sc.r.a.pe up an eleven."

"Ah!" said the captain, seeing his chance; "you've lost a good many good fellows. Wyndham, for one, has got up into the second-eleven, I hear."

"Yes," said Parson; "and jolly c.o.c.ky he is about it, too!"

"He's not been down at the practices lately, though," said Telson, colouring slightly, and for no apparent reason.

"Why? Is he seedy?" said the captain.

"Eh! No; I don't think so. Wyndham's not seedy, is he, should you think, Parson?"

"No," said Parson, exchanging uncomfortable glances with his ally; "not exactly seedy."

"It'll be a pity if he doesn't get playing in the Templeton match," said Riddell.