"Of course they do. Never so hard worked before. Soon get better. Let me see, this makes just a month you've been at it, eh?"

"Yes, this is the end of the fourth week."

"Then don't you think I deserve a bit of credit?"

"Oh yes!" I cried eagerly. "You have taken great pains over me, Lom.

I wish I had not been so stupid."

"So do I," he said drily. "Saddle feel very slippery this morning?"

"Oh no, I didn't notice it," I replied.

"Didn't long for the stirrups?"

"I didn't think about them."

"Felt as if you belonged to the horse now, eh, and could let yourself go with him?"

"Oh yes," I said.

"Well, then, all I've got to say, my boy, is, 'Brayvo!' You went through it all wonderfully this morning, and quite astonished me.

Seemed as if you and the horse were one, and you never showed the white feather once. Why, in another two or three months your uncle shall be proud of you."

"Then I went through my lesson well?" I said.

"Splendidly, boy, splendidly. Couldn't have done better. Now, trot the nag down home. Stop, you shall have the stirrups."

"No, not to-day, Lomax," I said. "I've got an--an engagement to keep.

Please take him down yourself."

"Right. I will. Hah! we've been longer than I thought, for the boys are coming out of school. Then down you come, and good morning."

I leaped off the horse, not feeling a bit stiff. Lomax replaced the stirrups, mounted, and went off again in the upright, steady way I had before admired, while I stood there listening to the shouting of the boys, and thinking of the thrashing I was bound to receive.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

I had not been standing in the field many minutes, shut in by the hedge, and trying to rouse myself to go, before I heard a familiar voice calling me, and I answered with a feeling of relief, for anything was better than that sensation of shrinking expectancy, and, drawing a deep breath, I prepared myself for the plunge.

"Oh, here you are!" cried Mercer, running up to me excitedly. "I say, here's a go! You've got to come up into the loft directly."

"The loft!" I said, feeling that here was something fresh. "What for?"

"Eely wants us. He sent d.i.c.ksee to me to say that we were to go to him directly."

"Do you know what for?" I said huskily.

"Yes, d.i.c.ksee told me. He said he was going to punch our heads for being cheeky. But I say, Frank, we're not obliged to go, are we?"

I was silent for a few moments, and then said, with an effort,--

"Yes, I suppose we must."

"But he isn't everybody."

"If we don't go, they'll come and fetch us."

"But you're not going to let him punch your head, are you?"

"I suppose so," I said dismally, for my anger had faded away, and I was quite cool.

"But I'm sick of being knocked about."

"So am I."

"Then don't let's have it. The time isn't anything like ripe, I know, and I don't believe a bit in being able to fight, but--"

"But what?" I said, after a pause.

"I don't know. I hate fighting."

"So do I, Tom," I said dismally. "I wish they'd leave us alone."

"I wish they only would."

"But why does Burr major want us to go into the loft? Why couldn't he come here?"

"Because he thinks he can lick us quietly up there, with only a few of his chaps with him, and two to be scouts. Oh dear me, school ain't nice!"

"Come on, Tom," I said, "and let's get it over."

"What? do you mean to go?"

"Yes," I said gloomily, "I suppose so."

"And do you mean to fight?"

"If I'm obliged. You may just as well have a few cracks at him as take it all for nothing. You'll come?"

"Oh, all right, but we shall get an awful licking," said Tom huskily.

"I can't fight a bit. It's all gammon--that poking out your left arm and fending with your right. I like to hit out with my right arm."

"I don't like hitting out at all," I said gloomily.

"But shall you try?"

"I don't know, Tom," I replied in a desponding tone. "Oh, I do wish boys wouldn't be such beasts! Come on."