I feel certain that the greater number of those here present had no share in it, and I shall give the culprits a chance of proving themselves at all events sufficiently honourable to prevent their schoolfellows suffering the consequences which have arisen from the folly of individuals.

Let those boys who are responsible for what occurred last evening stand up!" With one exception nobody stirred; a solitary small boy rose to his feet, and in spite of the gravity of the situation a subdued titter ran through the assembly.

Apparently the whole of the row and disturbance of the previous evening was the handiwork of one single boy, and that boy the youthful "Rats." "Well, Rathson," said the head-master grimly, "am I to understand that you single-handed overturned forms and tables, scattered books and papers to the four winds, and nearly tore the clothes off another boy's back ?" "N--no, sir," answered "Rats" plaintively.
"Then will you explain exactly what you did do ?" "I was reading--and the gas went out--and some one emptied a box of chess-men over my head--and I--I hit him--and then there was a lot of pushing, and I pushed, and--" concluded "Rats" apologetically-- "and I think I shouted." "H'm!" said the doctor; "so that's all you did.

Sit down, sir .-- Lucas!" "Yes, sir." "Do you remember what boys were in the reading-room last night ?" "Yes, sir, but I don't think they were responsible for what happened; it was done by others who came in from outside." There was a silence.
"I ask once more," said the head-master, "what boys took part in this disturbance?
let them stand up!" Once more young "Rats" alone pleaded guilty.
"Very well, then," continued the doctor sternly; "the whole school will be punished: there will be no half-holiday on Wednesday afternoon, and the reading-room will be closed for a fortnight .-- Sit down, Rathson; you are the only boy among the many who must have been connected with this affair--the only one, I say, who has any sense of manliness or honour.
Write me a hundred lines, and bring them to me to-morrow morning." The prospect of having to work on Wednesday afternoon caused, the boys themselves to take up the doctor's inquiry, and the query, "Who did it ?" became the burning question of the hour.
The riot had evidently been carefully planned beforehand, and the plot arranged in such a manner that those who took part in it might do so without being recognized.
It was impossible to discover who really were the culprits, though the majority of the boys put it down as having been done by "some of 'Thirsty's' lot," and as being a further proof of the latter's well-known animosity towards Allingford, who had, of course, appointed Lucas as keeper of the room.
"Look here!" said Diggory, accosting Fletcher Two in the playground: "what made you tell us to come to the reading-room last night?
How did you know there was going to be a row ?" "I didn't," murmured the other warily.

"All I knew was that they were going to put 'Rats' in the 'stocks;' I hadn't the faintest idea there was going to be such a fine old rumpus." "Umph! hadn't you ?" muttered Diggory, turning on his heel; "I know better.".