WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN?
The Wraxby match was played and won. Allingford and his men journeyed
to the neighbouring town, so gaming the additional credit of a victory
on their opponents' ground; and thus, for the first time for many years,
Ronleigh lowered the flag of their ancient rivals both at cricket and at
football.
"Hurrah!" cried "Rats," who was in a great state of excitement when the
news arrived; "they won't ask us again if we'd like to play a master,
the cheeky beggars!"
The same afternoon on which Ronleigh so distinguished herself saw also
the melancholy ending of the school life of two of her number. Thurston
and Fletcher One went home to return no more; practically expelled,
though the doctor, in this instance, did not make a public example of
their departure.
Another thing happened on this memorable day which caused quite a
sensation, especially among the members of the upper and lower divisions
of the Fourth Form.
"I say, have you heard the latest?" cried Maxton, bursting into the
reading-room just before preparation, regardless alike of the presence
of Lucas and the rule relating to silence.
"What about?" asked several voices.
"Why, about Noaks!"
"No."
"Well, then, he's run away!"
Magazines and papers fell from the hands which held them, and the usual
quiet of the room was broken by a buzz of astonishment.
"Run away! Go on; you don't mean it!"
"I do, though: he's skedaddled right enough, and they can't find him
anywhere."
The report was only too true. Afraid to face his schoolfellows, and
having already received several intimations, from fellows passing the
housekeeper's parlour, that a jolly good licking awaited him when he
left his present place of refuge, Noaks had watched his opportunity, and
when the boys were at tea had slipped out, and, as Maxton put it,
"run away."
No one mourned his loss; even Mouler would not own to having been his
friend; and everybody who expressed any opinion on the subject spoke
of his departure as being decidedly a good riddance.
The Triple Alliance, however, had cause to feel uneasy when they heard
of this latest escapade of their ancient enemy.
"He's got my knife with him," said Mugford; "he may go any day and try
for that reward."
For the time being, however, no communication was received from the
police-station at Todderton, and none of the three friends was caused,
like Eugene Aram, to leave the school with gyves upon his wrists.
Whatever evil intentions Noaks might have cherished towards them were
destined to be checkmated by a fortunate circumstance, the possibility
of which neither side had yet foreseen.
The last day of the term arrived in due course, bringing with it that
jolly time when everybody is excited, happy, and good-tempered; when the
morning's work is a mere matter of form, and the boys slap their books
together at the sound of the bell, with the joyful conviction that the
whole length of the Christmas holidays lies between them and "next
lesson."
Directly after dinner every one commenced "packing up;" which term might
have been supposed to include every form of skylarking which the heart
of the small boy could devise, from racing round the quadrangle, arrayed
in one of Bibbs's night-shirts, to playing football in the gymnasium,
North _versus_ South, with the remains of an old mortar-board.
It was at this period of the day that the Triple Alliance proceeded to
carry out a project which had for some little time occupied the minds of
at least two of their number. The idea was that the little fraternity
should celebrate their approaching separation, and the consequent
breaking up of their association, with a sort of funeral feast, the cost
of which Jack and Diggory insisted should be borne by the two surviving
members. Only one outsider was invited to attend--namely, "Rats," whose
cheery presence it was thought would tend to enliven the proceedings,
and chase away the gloomy clouds of regret which would naturally hang
over the near prospect of parting.
The box-room (where such functions usually took place) being at this
time in a state of indescribable uproar, it was decided that the banquet
should be served in one of the remote classrooms.
"None of the fellows'll come near it," said Jack Vance; "and if old
Watford should be knocking round and catch us there, he won't do
anything to-day; we shall have to clear out, that's all."
Accordingly, about a quarter to four, the three friends, with their
solitary guest, assembled at the trysting-place. Jack Vance carried two
big paper bags, Diggory a biscuit-box and a small tin kettle, while the
other two were provided with four clean jam-pots, it having been
announced that there was "going to be some cocoa."
For the preparation of this luxury Diggory mounted a form and lit one of
the gas-jets, over which he and Jack Vance took it in turns to hold the
kettle until the water boiled. Sugar, cocoa, and condensed milk were
produced from the biscuit-tin, and the jam-pots having been filled with
the steaming beverage, the company seated themselves round the stove, in
which there still smouldered some remains of the morning's fire, and
prepared to enjoy themselves.
From the first, however, the proceeding's fell as flat as ditch-water.
Even the gallant efforts of "Rats" to enliven the party were of no
avail; and for some time everybody munched away in silence, Jack Vance
occasionally pausing to remark, "Here, pass over that nose-bag, and help
yourselves."
The classroom itself, which belonged to the Third Form, was suggestive
of that glad season known as "breaking-up." The ink-pots had all been
collected, and stood together in a tray on the master's table; fragments
of examination papers filled the paper-basket, and were littered here
and there about the floor, while some promising Latin scholar had
scrawled across the blackboard the well-known words, _Dulce Domum_.
These inspiriting signs of a "good time coming" were, however, lost on
the Triple Alliance. Their present surroundings served only to remind
them of the old days of "The Happy Family," when they had first come to
Ronleigh, never expecting but to have completed the period of their
school lives in one another's company.
"Well," said Jack Vance, suddenly broaching the subject which was
uppermost in each of their minds, "we've had jolly times together.--
D'you remember when we made the Alliance, the day you first came
to The Birches, Diggory?"
"Yes," answered Diggory; "it was just after we'd been frightened by the
ghost. D'you remember the 'Main-top' and the 'House of Lords' and the
Philistines? I wonder what's become of them all?"
One reminiscence suggested another, and after exhausting their
recollections of The Birches, they recalled their varied experiences at
Ronleigh. Only one adventure was by mutual consent not alluded
to: their clandestine visit to The Hermitage, coupled with Noaks's
threat, hung like the sword suspended by a single hair above the head of
Damocles at the feast.
At length, when the paper bags had been wellnigh emptied, Jack Vance
intimated his intention of making a speech--which announcement was
received with considerable applause.
"Don't finish up your cocoa," he began, "because, before we dissolve the
Alliance, I'm going to propose a toast. We've been friends a long time,
and both here and at The Birches, as Diggory says, the Triple Alliance
has done wonders and covered itself with glory." (Cheers.) "We said
when we started that we'd always stand by each other whatever happened;
and so we have, and so we would again if we were going to be together
any longer." ("Hear, hear!") "I wish 'Rats' could have joined us, but
then I suppose it wouldn't have been the Triple Alliance. However, now
it's finished with; but before we break it up, I'm going to call upon
you to drink the health of Mr. Mugford. May he have long life and
happiness, and a jolly fine house, with a model railway, and a lake for
boating in the grounds, and ask us all to come and stay with him
whenever we feel inclined."
This sentiment was received with shouts of applause, and in honouring it
the jam-pots were drained to their muddy dregs.
No one expected that Mugford would reply, for he was decidedly a man of
few words; but on this occasion he rose above his usual self, and
sitting with his hands in his trouser pockets, his feet on the fender of
the stove, and his chin sunk forward on his breast, delivered himself as
follows. The room was already growing dark with the early winter
twilight, which perhaps rendered it more easy for him to undertake the
task of responding to the toast.
"You've always been very kind to me," he began, speaking rather quickly.
"No, we haven't," interrupted Jack Vance.
"Yes, you have. Just shut up; I'm going to say what I like. You made
friends with me because I happened to be in the same room at The
Birches; but you always stuck to me, and helped me along a lot when we
came here first. I know I'm stupid, and sometimes I feel I'm a coward;
but I enjoyed being with you, and shall always remember the times we've
had together--yes, I swear I shall--always. And now I've got a drop of
cocoa left, so I'm going to propose a toast. You must take 'Rats' in my
place. I hope you'll have heaps of larks; and you must write me a
letter sometimes and tell me what you're doing. Here goes--The new
_Triple Alliance!_"
It was customary to laugh at whatever Mugford said, but on this occasion
not even a smile greeted the conclusion of his remarks.
Only Diggory spoke. "No, we shan't have another Triple Alliance; now
it's going to end."
He turned, and taking something out of the biscuit-tin, said solemnly,
"I, Diggory Trevanock, do hereby declare that the association known as
the Triple Alliance is now dissolved; in token of which I break this bit
of a flat ruler, used by us as a sugar-spoon, into three parts, one of
which I present to each of the members as a keepsake, to remind them of
all our great deeds and many adventures."
Each boy pocketed his fragment of wood in silence. Jack Vance tried to
crack a joke, but it was a miserable failure.
"There was something I wanted to say," began "Rats" thoughtfully.
"I shall remember it in a minute. Oh, _bother!_"
"What's up?"
"Why, I know what it was; Mugford's talking about writing to him
reminded me of it. I'm awfully sorry, but there were some letters came
for you chaps this morning. I took them off the table, meaning to give
them to you; but I quite forgot, and left them in my desk."
"Well, you're a nice one!" cried Diggory. "Suppose you go and fetch 'em
now!"
"Rats" scrambled to his feet and hurried out of the room.
Jack Vance pulled out his watch, and held it down so that the glimmer of
the red light from between the bars of the stove fell upon its face.
"My word," he exclaimed, "it's time we thought about packing!"
"Wait a jiff for those letters," answered Diggory.
A moment later "Rats" came scampering down the passage. "Here they
are," he cried; "I'm very sorry I forgot 'em. A letter for Mugford, and
a paper for Vance."
Diggory relighted the gas-jet which he had turned out after boiling the
kettle, and proceeded, with the assistance of "Rats," to gather up the
remains of the feast. They had hardly, however, got further than
emptying the tin kettle down the ventilator before their attention was
attracted by a joyful exclamation from Jack Vance.
"What d'you think's happened?" he cried, brandishing the open newspaper.
"Why, they've caught the thieves who stole old Fossberry's coins!"
"Not really!"
"They have, though. It was the old woman who looks after the house, and
her husband; they're to be tried at the next assizes. They did it right
enough; some of the coins were found in their possession, and--Hullo!
what's the matter with you?"
The latter remark was addressed to Mugford, who suddenly jumped on a
form, began to dance, fell off into the coal-box, scrambled to his feet,
and capered wildly round the room.
"He's gone mad!" cried Diggory; "catch him, and sit on his head!"
"No, I haven't!" exclaimed Mugford, coming to a standstill; "but what do
you think's happened? Guess!"
"Not that you're going to stay on here!"
"Yes! My uncle says he'll pay for me, and I'm to come back again after
Christmas!"
"Well, I'm sure!" gasped Jack Vance; "and we've just dissolved the
Alliance! We must make it again."
"No, you shan't!" shouted "Rats;" "Diggory said you wouldn't.
I'm coming in, as Mugford suggested, so it'll have to be a quadruple one
next time."
"Well, so it shall be," cried Jack Vance, embracing Mugford with the
hugging power of a juvenile bear: "next term we'll start afresh."
Diggory and "Rats" promptly fell into each other's arms, and all four,
coming into violent collision, tumbled down amidst the _debris_ of the
overturned coal-box; and after rolling over one another like a lot of
young dogs, scrambled to their feet, turned out the gas, and rushed away
to complete their packing.
So, as the door slams behind them, they vanish from our sight; for
though the renewal of their friendship tempts us to follow them further
in their school life, we are reminded that our story has been told.
Here ended the existence of the Triple Alliance, and here, therefore,
should the history of its trials and triumphs be likewise brought to a
conclusion.