We shall play up hard next time, and then they'll see it's worth their while to be civil to us." "Yes," said Brinkman, "it won't do to let them say we aren't the friends of the School." "There's not the least fear of any one thinking that now," gibed Fullerton.
"Well," said Dangle, "as we are to play the return with Rendlesham this day week, we shall have a chance of letting them see what we can do.
Only if that cad Rollitt plays, it won't be easy to be civil." These patriotic young gentlemen were a good deal disconcerted next morning to find that they had been reckoning without their host.

The captain had posted up the fifteen to play next week.

The list contained the names of Fullerton, Brinkman, and two others on the Modern side, but omitted those of Clapperton and Dangle.
In their wildest dreams the malcontents had never reckoned on the captain taking such a step as this.

They knew that they were necessary to the efficiency of any team, and that without them, especially against Rendlesham, it would be almost a farce to go into the field at all.
At first they were disposed to laugh and sneer; then to bluster.

Then it dawned on them gradually that for once in their lives they had made a mistake.