"I was especially glad to see the Welchers coming out again," said the
doctor, with a friendly nod to Riddell.
"Yes," said Fairbairn, who appeared to be alarmingly at his ease; "and
Welch's did good service too; that catch of Riddell's saved us a wicket
or two, didn't it, Bloomfield?"
"Yes," replied Bloomfield.
"Was Rockshire a specially weak team this year?" asked the doctor.
"I don't think so, sir," replied Fairbairn, politely handing the toast
to Miss Stringer as he spoke; "but they evidently weren't so well
together as our men."
"And what, Mr Fairbairn," asked Miss Stringer at this point, in her
most stately tones--"what, pray, is the exact meaning of the expression
`well together,' as applied to a company of youths?"
Bloomfield and Riddell groaned inwardly for their comrade. They had
seen what was coming, and had marked his rash approach to the mouth of
the volcano with growing apprehension. They had been helpless to hold
him back, and now his turn was come--he had met his fate.
So, at least, they imagined. What, then, was their amazement when he
turned not a hair at the question, but replied, stirring his tea
complacently as he did so, "You see, each of the Rockshire men may have
been a good cricketer, and yet if they had not been used to playing
together, as our fellows have been, we should have a decided pull on
them."
Miss Stringer regarded the speaker critically. She had not been used to
have her problems so readily answered, and appeared to discover a
suspicion of rudeness in the boy's speech which called for a set-down.
"I do not understand what you mean by a `pull,' Mr Fairbairn," said
she, sternly.
"Why," replied Fairbairn, who was really interested in the subject, and
quite pleased to be drawn out on so congenial a topic, "it's almost as
important to get to know the play of your own men as to know the play of
your opponents. For instance, when we all know Bloomfield's balls break
a bit to the off, we generally know whereabouts in the field to expect
them if they are taken; and when Porter goes on with slows every one
knows to stand in close and look out for catches."
"Yes," said Bloomfield, gaining sudden courage by the example of his
comrade, "that's just where Rockshire were weak. They were always
shifting about their field and bowlers. I'm certain they had scarcely
played together once."
"And," added Riddell, also taking heart of grace, and entering into the
humour of the situation--"and they seemed to save up their good bowlers
for the end, instead of beginning with them. All our hitting men got
the easy bowling, and the others, who were never expected to score in
any case, were put out by the good."
"In this respect, you see," continued Fairbairn, addressing Miss
Stringer, "a school eleven always get the pull of a scratch team."
Miss Stringer, who during this conversation had been growing manifestly
uncomfortable, vouchsafed no reply, but, turning to her sister, said,
with marked formality, "My dear, were the Browns at home when you called
this afternoon?"
"I regret to say they were out," replied Mrs Patrick, with a withering
glance round the table.
"Of course, it depends, too," said Bloomfield, replying to Fairbairn's
last question and giving him an imperceptible sly kick under the table,
"on whether it's early or late in the season. If we were to play them
in August they would know their own play as well as we know ours."
"Only," chimed in Riddell, "these county teams don't stick to the same
elevens as regularly as a school does."
"My dear, have you done your tea?" inquired Mrs Patrick's voice across
the table.
"Yes. Shall I ring?" said the doctor.
"Allow me," said Fairbairn, rising hastily, and nearly knocking over
Miss Stringer in his eagerness.
The spinster, who had already received in her own opinion sufficient
affront for one evening, put the worst construction possible on this
accident, and answered with evident ill-temper, "You are very clumsy,
sir!"
"I beg your pardon, indeed!" said Fairbairn. "I hope you are not hurt?"
"Be silent, sir!"
Fairbairn, quite taken aback by this unexpected exclamation, did not
know what to say, and looked round inquiringly at the doctor, as much as
to ask if the lady was often taken this way.
The doctor, however, volunteered no explanation, but looked
uncomfortable and coughed.
"If you will excuse me," said Miss Stringer to her sister, with a forced
severity of tone, "I will go to my room."
"You are not well, I fear," said Mrs Patrick. "I will go with you";
and next moment the enemy was gone, and the doctor and his boys were
together.
Dr Patrick, who, to tell the truth, seemed scarcely less relieved than
his visitors, made no attempt to apologise for Miss Stringer's sudden
indisposition, and embarked at once on a friendly talk about school
affairs.
This had been his only object in inviting the boys. He had nothing
momentous to say, and no important change to propose. Indeed, his
object appeared to be more to get them to talk among themselves on
matters of common interest to the school, and to let them see that his
sympathy was with them in their efforts for the public good.
No reference was made to the state of affairs in Parrett's, or to the
rivalries of the two captains. That the doctor knew all about these
matters no one doubted, but he took the wise course of leaving them to
right themselves, and at the same time of making it very clear what his
opinions were of the effect of disunion and divided interest in a great
public school.
Altogether the evening was profitably and pleasantly spent, and when at
length the boys took their leave it was with increased respect for the
head master and one another.
The ladies, greatly to their relief, did not return to the scene.
"Miss Stringer," said Fairbairn, as the three walked together across the
quadrangle, "doesn't seem to appreciate cricket."
The others laughed.
"I say," said Bloomfield, "you put your foot into it awfully! She
thought you were chaffing her all the time."
"Did she? What a pity!" replied Fairbairn.
"Of course, we were bound to help you out when you were once in,"
continued Bloomfield. "But I don't fancy we three will be asked up
there again in a hurry."
They came to the schoolhouse gate, and Fairbairn said good-night.
Riddell and Bloomfield walked on together towards Parrett's.
"Oh, Bloomfield!" said the captain, nervously, "I just wanted to tell
you that I believe I have been all wrong in my guess about the boat-race
affair. The boy I suspected, I now fancy, had nothing to do with it."
"You are still determined to keep it all to yourself, then?" asked
Bloomfield, somewhat coldly.
"Of course," replied the captain.
At this point they reached Parrett's. Neither boy had any inclination
to pursue the unpleasant topic--all the more unpleasant because it was
the one bar to a friendship which both desired.
"Good-night," said Bloomfield, stiffly.
"Good-night," replied the captain.