CHAPTER FOUR.
A CLOSE ELECTION.
Ever since certain well-meaning governors, two years ago, had succeeded in forcing upon Fellsgarth the adoption of a Modern side, the School had been rent by factions whose quarrels sometimes bordered on civil war.
When people squabble about the management of a school outside, the boys are pretty sure to quarrel and take sides against one another inside.
The old set, consisting mostly of the Classical boys, felt very sore on the question.

It was a case of sentiment, not argument.

If boys, said they, wanted to learn science and modern languages, let them; but don't let them come fooling around at Fellsgarth and spoiling the reputation of a good old classical school.

There were plenty of schools where fellows could be brought up in a new-fangled way.

Let them go to one of these, and leave Fellsgarth in peace to her dead authors.
The boys who used such arguments, it is fair to say, were not always the most profound classical scholars.