But the after-reflection that for all he knew his services might not be required on the Eleven, that very possibly his brand of football was not good enough for Brimfield, had caused a relapse into depression.

Thrice he had told himself that as soon as the plodding horse reached the further turn he would get up and go back to his room, and thrice he had failed to keep his promise.

He wondered who his room-mate was to be and whether that youth had yet arrived, but his curiosity was not strong enough to get him up.

Now, however, the mower was again traversing the opposite end of the field, and again approaching the further corner, and once more he made the agreement with himself, really meaning to live up to it.

But, as events proved, he was not destined to keep faith.
From around the corner of the stand furthest from the Row appeared a boy in a suit of light grey flannels.