Come, out with it." It was an awful thing to beard the lion in his den--for a new boy to face so great a personage as the football captain, and refuse point-blank to do as he was told.

Diggory shifted uneasily from one foot to another, and then glancing up he became aware of the fact that Allingford was gazing at him across the table with a curious expression, which somehow gave him fresh encouragement to persist in his refusal to disclose the contents of his former friend's love-letter.
"I can't tell you," he repeated; "it was a promise, you know." The Ronleigh captain laughed.

"Well done," he said.

"I wish some other fellows were a bit more careful to keep their promises .-- Acton, you beggar, you swore you'd keep up this register for me, and there's nothing entered for last term." "Oh, bother you, Ally!" exclaimed the other; "what a nigger-driver you are!--Hullo, there's the bell!--Here, kid, stick those two oranges in your pocket; go 'long!" Diggory left the room, having gained something else besides the two oranges; for as he closed the door Allingford laughed again, and rising from his chair said, "He's a stanch little beggar; I think I'll keep an eye on him." The subject of this remark hurried away, and had just joined the crowd of boys who were thronging into the big school for assembly, when some one took hold of his arm, and glancing round he was startled to see Jack Vance, looking very excited and dishevelled, and mopping his mouth with a blood-stained handkerchief.
"I say," exclaimed the latter, "have you seen Mugford ?" "No.

What's the matter?
what have you done to your mouth ?" "Why, I've had a beastly row with Noaks.