The offices will be given out and the berths drawn by the merit roll for January, February, and a portion of March--only about nine weeks of term time." Shuffles, who stood near the principal, looked very much disconcerted when this announcement was made, and whispered to Paul Kendall that it was not fair to distribute the offices by last year's record.

While the Young America was lying at anchor in Chesapeake Bay, in December, Shuffles, then second lieutenant, had received a letter from his mother, in which she had informed him that his family would visit Europe in the following spring, and that he would leave the ship, and form one of the party.

This information had caused him to relax his efforts as a student, and he had fallen very low in rank.

This was the reason why the proposed distribution of offices was not fair.
When Shuffles went home on his furlough of twenty days, he had behaved so badly that his father refused to have him form one of the party in the trip abroad, and compelled him to return to the ship for another year of wholesome discipline under Mr.Lowington.Angry and indignant, Shuffles did return and the announcement that the offices were to be distributed by the merit roll did not add to his equanimity.
"I will now read the record of marks," said the principal, "and announce the officers for the next term." The boys were silent and anxious; for places in the after cabin were more highly valued than ever, now that the Young America was going to Europe..