My comrades did not fail to remind me several times during the afternoon of my "promise," as they called it, to distribute the Conversation Club circulars in Great Hall, and adjured me not to run it too fine.

The consequence was that, at a quarter to five, I was convoyed, with the bundle of papers under my arm, to the door of the dining-hall, and gently shoved inside, with all retreat cut off until my task was done.
Some of the servants who were laying the tables objected to my presence, but on my explaining I had been sent to do it, they allowed me without interruption to lay a copy of the precious document on each of the five hundred plates.

I had barely concluded this arduous duty when the bell commenced to ring, and the fellows in twos and threes began to drop in.
It was all I could do to affect unconsciousness, as from a modest retreat near the door I marked the effect of the announcement on Low Heath generally.

At first there was a note of surprise; then, as one after another read on, a titter, and finally a general laugh, which was only checked by the entrance of the masters and the call to grace.
I had--being a stranger to the place--distributed my favours among the masters quite as liberally as among the boys, and presently, with horror, perceived Dr England rise in his place with his copy in his hand.
"Whew!" whistled Langrish, "there's a row on, I fancy." "Serve you right if there is," said Trimble.

"Why ever did you put them on _that_ table ?" "How was I to know ?" groaned I.
"What boy," said the doctor, when silence prevailed, "what boy has been putting this foolish paper round the hall ?" Oh dear! How I wished I was safe at home! "Please, sir, I did," said I, rising meekly in my place.
"Your name ?" "Jones iv., please, sir." "Then come at once, Jones iv., and collect them again, every one, and write out two hundred lines.