The Cock-House at Fellsgarth Part 10

Yorke was at work, with his lexicon and notebooks on the table, when the envoy entered.

"Well, is that you or your brother?" inquired he.

"Not my brother, if I know it," said Percy.

"That's not much help. He says exactly the same when I put the same question to him."

"He does, does he? I owe Wally one already, now--"

"Thanks--then you're not Wally. What do you want?"

"This note. Clapperton said I was to wait while you read it, and bring an answer if there was one."

Yorke read the note, and smiled as he did so. Percy wished he knew what was in it. He didn't know Clapperton could make jokes.

"Any answer?" he demanded.

"Yes--there's an answer," said the captain.

He took out a list of names from his pocket, and compared it with that on Clapperton's letter. Then he wrote as follows:--

"Dear Clapperton,--The fifteen against Rendlesham is already made up as follows," (here followed the list). "You will see it includes six of the names you sent. We must play the best team we can; and I think we shall have it.

"Yours truly,--

"Cecil Yorke."

"There's the answer. Take it over at once."

"I like his style," growled Percy to himself. "He don't seem to have a `please' about him. Catch me hurrying myself for him; I've got this precious canva.s.ser to look after."

And he returned at a leisurely pace to the rendezvous.

No Fisher minor was there!

That young gentleman, when left to himself, found himself in a perspiration of doubt and fear. He had made a most awkward blunder, and confessed the delinquencies of his comrades to the very last man they would wish to know of them. That was bad enough; but, to make things worse, he was to be let in for the blame of the whole affair, and, with Master Percy's a.s.sistance, was shortly to experience warm weather among the Moderns.

Happy thought! He would not stay where he was. He would retire, as the Latin book said, into winter quarters, and entrench himself in the stronghold of Wally and D'Arcy and Ashby. If he _was_ to get it hot, he would sooner get it from them than from the barbarians in Forder's.

With which desperate conclusion, and once more devoutly wis.h.i.+ng himself safe at home, he made tracks, at a rapid walk, to Wally's room. His three comrades were all there.

"What's up?" said they as he entered, with agitated face.

"Oh, I say, it's all because you and your brother are so alike. I met him just now; and--he's heard about that canva.s.sing, you know, and I thought you'd like to know."

"You mean to say you blabbed?" said Wally, jumping to his feet.

"It's your fault," said D'Arcy. "I've made the same mistake myself.

Why can't you grow a moustache or something to distinguish you?"

"Why can't you get your brother to be a Cla.s.sic! then it wouldn't matter--either of you would do," suggested Ashby.

Ashby was beginning to feel quite at home in Wakefield's.

"I'll let some of you see if it won't matter," retorted Wally. "If they've got wind of that affair the other side, there'll be a fearful row. They'll want another election. Oh, you young idiot! That comes of trusting a new kid, that sings comic songs, and parts his hair the wrong side, with a secret. D'Arcy's nearly as big an a.s.s as you are yourself, to trust you."

After this Philippic, Wally felt a little better, and was ready to consider what had better be done.

"He's bound to come here, you chaps," said he. "You cut. Leave him to me--I'll tackle him."

Fisher minor considered this uncommonly good advice, and obeyed it with alacrity. The other two followed less eagerly. They would have liked to stay and see the fun.

As Wally expected, his affectionate relative, being baulked of his prey outside, came to pay a fraternal visit.

"What cheer?" said he. "I say, have you seen a kid called Fisher minor?

The new kid, you know, that we had a lark with at dinner on first- night."

"Oh, that chap. Bless you, he messes in our study. What about him?"

"I want him. I want to say something to him."

"I'll tell him."

"All right. He's come and told you, has he? and you're hiding him?

Never mind; I'll bowl him out, the beauty. I know all about that little game of yours, yesterday, you know!"

"What little game?"

"As if you didn't know! Do you suppose I didn't find five of 'em shut up here yesterday, being kept out of the way at Elections?"

"Yes; and do you suppose if it hadn't been for me they'd have got into the Hall at all? Don't be a beast, Percy, if you can help. They stayed here of their own accord. No one kept them in. I say, have some toffee?"

"Got any?"

"Rather. A new brew this morning. I say, you can have half of it."

"Thanks, awfully, Wally."

"You see--oh, take more than that--these new kids are such born a.s.ses, they boss everything. You should have heard that Fisher minor at lamb's singing the other night--like the toffee? I say, don't be a sneak about those chaps. You'd never have got them in without me. I backed you up, and got the door open. I say--would you like a Turkish stamp? I've got one to swop--but you can have it if you like."

"Thanks, old man. Yes, new kinds are rot. Well, ta, ta--better make it up, I suppose. I say, I shan't have time to write home to-day. You write this time, and I'll do the two next week."

"All serene, if you like. Here, you're leaving one of your bits of toffee. Ta, ta, old chappie."

And these great twin brethren, whose infirmity it was always to be fond of one another when they were together, and to scorn one another when they were apart, separated in a most amicable fas.h.i.+on.

"Well?" asked the three exiles, putting in their heads as soon as the enemy had gone.