The first thing is the cricket captain.

There's only one man fit for that, and I won't go through the farce of proposing him.

Those who say Mansfield's the right man for cricket captain, hold up your hands." A forest of hands went up, for even the malcontents who didn't approve of Mansfield as a monitor had nothing to say against his cricket, which was about as perfect as any that had been seen in the Templeton fields for a dozen years.
With similar unanimity Cresswell was re-elected Whipper-in of the Harriers, and no one held up his hand more enthusiastically for him than did Dick, who shuddered to think how he could ever have imagined himself on such a lofty pedestal.
Then followed in quick succession elections to the other high offices of state in Templeton--Cartwright to the football captaincy, Bull to the keepership of the fives and tennis, Freckleton to be warden of the port--a sinecure office, supposed to imply some duties connected with the "Tub," but really only the relic of some ancient office handed down from bygone generations, and piously retained by a conservative posterity.
All these were re-elections and passed off without opposition, and as a matter of course.
When, however, Pontifex announced that the office of Usher of the Chapel was vacant, the duties of which were to mark the attendance of all boys and present weekly reports of their punctuality, and proceeded to nominate Pledge for the post, the first symptoms of opposition showed themselves, much to the delight of the Den.
"I move an amendment to that," said Birket, looking a little nervous, but evidently in earnest.

"I don't think Pledge is the proper man.
(Cheers.) I don't like him myself--( loud cheers)--and I don't think I'm very fastidious.

(Great applause from the Den.) We want an honest, reliable man--( hear, hear)--who'll keep our scores without fear or favour.