By the way, one of you kids,' said he, with a wink our way, `might go and fetch Riddell; he'd like to be here too.' "We shoved young Wakefield out of the door to make believe to go and fetch you.

But they'd had quite enough of it, and shut up the meeting all of a sudden.
"`I adjourn the meeting!' cried Game, as red as a turkey-cock.
"`All right! that will suit me just as well,' says Crossfield, grinning.
`Is it to any particular day, or shall we get notice as before ?' "Of course they didn't stop to answer, and so we gave no end of a cheer for old Crossfield, and then came on here." And having delivered themselves of this full, true, and particular account of the afternoon's adventures, these two small heroes continued their trot down to the river to refresh their honest limbs after the day's labours.
Their version of the proceedings was very little exaggerated, and, as Crossfield and several others who were present each entertained his own particular circle of friends with the same story, the whole affair became a joke against the luckless Game and Ashley.
Even their own house did not spare them, and as for Bloomfield, he evinced his displeasure in a way which surprised the two heroes.
"What's all this foolery you've been up to, you two ?" said he, coming into the preparation-room after tea, where most of the senior Parretts were assembled.
It was not flattering certainly to the two in question to have their noble protest for the honour of the school thus designated, and Game answered, rather sheepishly, "We've been up to no foolery!" "You may not call it foolery," said Bloomfield, who was in anything but a good temper, "but I do! Making the whole house ridiculous! Goodness knows there's been quite enough done in that way without wanting your help to do more!" "What's the use of going on like that ?" said Ashley.

"You don't suppose we did it to amuse ourselves, do you ?" "If you didn't amuse yourselves you amused every one else," growled Bloomfield.

"Everybody's laughing at us." "We felt something ought to be done about Riddell--" began Game.
"Felt! You'd no business to feel, if that's the best you can show for it," said Bloomfield.

"_You'll_ never set things right!" "Look here," said Game, quickly, losing his temper; "you know well enough it was meant for the best, and you needn't come and kick up a row like this before everybody! If you don't care to have Riddell shown up, it is no reason why we shouldn't!" "A precious lot you've shown him up! If you'd wanted to get every one on his side, you couldn't have done better.