I had a bit of a talk with Joe Crump before I came away, and he says that young Noaks is going to leave at the end of this term, and he's been telling the Philistines that before he goes he means to do something that'll pay us out for his being sent off the field in that football match.

Crump doesn't know what he means to do, but I made him promise, if he finds out, to come and tell me, and I'll give him another shilling.

Then we shall be prepared." "I say, Diggy," exclaimed Jack Vance, "you are a _corker!_" and the bell now commencing to ring for evening preparation, the meeting terminated.
It was an annual custom at The Birches for the boys to subscribe towards getting a display of fireworks, which were let off in the playground under the superintendence of Mr.Blake.

The head-master himself gave a donation towards the fund, and allowed the boys to prepare the next day's work in the afternoon instead of in the evening.
This year, however, when Acton went, as usual, to the library to formally ask permission that the celebration should take place, he met with a terrible rebuff.
"No, Acton," answered Mr.Welsby; "as long as the school continues to be disgraced by these repeated thefts--as, for example, this recent instance of Morris's watch and chain--I do not feel inclined to allow the same privileges as before.

There will be no fireworks this term." As may be imagined, when the dux reported the result of his visit to head-quarters, the news created great excitement.