The seniors were deeply concerned in the issue of the Mile.

Would Redwood, who had hitherto held his own easily, save his laurels this time?
Would Tempest, with his damaged hand, be able to run his hardest?
Would any dark horse, at the last moment, enter to divide the interest?
And so on.
Among the middle boys considerable excitement was afoot, especially in Selkirk's house, where it was reported a boy of fifteen and a half was going to beat the senior record in the Jump, and perhaps run the public school record very close.
But the chief excitement was among us juniors.

We had modestly set before ourselves the task of winning every event under fifteen for Sharpe's house, to say nothing of pulling the day boys over the chalk in the Tug of War, and generally bringing the Philosophers well before the public notice.

The secret of our intention had been well-kept till within a week of the day.

We had been taunted with shirking our sports, with being "mugs" and "crocks" and "cripples," with exercising the better part of valour, with being afraid of being laughed at, and so forth.