CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
HOW OUR HEROES TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE CHASE.
During the few days which followed their gallant but unsuccessful attempt to "back up" Tom White, the "Firm" found plenty to think about nearer home.
The rumour of the revolution in the "Select Sociables" spread rapidly over Templeton, and Freckleton was almost mobbed more than once by his new admirers.

However, he kept his head, and steered his new ship craftily and carefully.

By appealing to the patriotism and honour of his "Sociables," he succeeded in getting the rules so amended and purified, that in a few days, instead of being a select Club of the worst characters in Templeton, its constitution was open enough to admit any boy who in any way proved himself a credit to the school.
A still more important step was the voluntary disbanding of the old Club for the purpose of placing the new rules before a meeting of the whole school.

This was not an easy thing to accomplish, for the old members knew, most of them, that their qualifications were the reverse of those which would make them eligible for membership according to the new rules.

They therefore clung tenaciously to their hold, and it was not until Freckleton compromised the matter by promising to hold them eligible for election to the new Club, and exempt them from the conditions other fellows would have to fulfil to become eligible, that they finally gave way.
It was a great day when, by virtue of a personal invitation to each boy in the Hermit's name, Templeton met together in the Great Hall to put the new Club on its feet.
It was remarked at this meeting that the Sixth took their places as ordinary Templetonians in the body of the hall, and not on the dais, and that the Den, which usually herded together at the lower end, was distributed here and there impartially.
In fact, everyone was equal to-day, and the very knowledge of the fact seemed to put dignity and order into the assembly.
After rather an awkward pause, during which it seemed doubtful how the business ought to begin, Freckleton stepped up on to the platform.