Arthur and Dig replied by a rather ceremonious bow, in which the deputation followed them; and then the latter carefully cleared his throat.
"We, the undersigned, boys in your house," he began, reading from the paper before him in a somewhat breathless way, "beg to present you with a small token of our esteem--[Go on, hand it up, Arthur], and hope you will like it, and that it will fit, and trust that the name graven within will suggest pleasant memories in which we all join.

The letters are in the Greek character.

We hope we shall all enjoy our holidays, and come back better in mind and body.

You may rely on us to back you up, and to keep dark things you would not like to have mentioned .-- Signed, with kind regards, Daisy Herapath (a most particular friend), J.
Felgate (prefect), Arthur Herapath (treasurer), Sir Digby Oakshott, Baronet (secretary), Bateson and Jukes (Babies), Maple, Simson, Tilbury, and Dimsdale (Shell), Munger (Fifth), Snape (Baby in Bickers's house)." It spoke a good deal for Mark Railsford that under the first shock of this startling interview, he did not bowl over the whole deputation like so many ninepins and explode before the assembled house.

As it was he was too much taken aback to realise the position for a minute or so; and by that time the baronet's address was half read.