And so it turned out.
Coates's first ball came down temptingly towards the off stump.

Any enterprising player would have cut it for a safe four, but this cautious hand, who seemed to smell a rat in everything, was evidently determined not to be taken in by first appearances, and turned it off, half contemptuously, to his favourite quarter among the slips, thinking possibly he might punish the next rather more freely.

But the next was not to come for him.

Coates's ball was rising a bit as the batsman touched it, and though he did not hit it up, it yet spun a foot or so above the ground, an easy catch, straight into Riddell's hand, who held it fast, much to his own surprise, and greatly to the jubilation of all Willoughby.
"Well caught, sir! Caught, indeed! Played up, Riddell!" were the cries which on all hands greeted the achievement, Wyndham's call being longest and loudest of them all.
But this time Riddell suffered no harm from the sound of that familiar voice.

He had steeled himself against it for a few hours at least, and it was to him but one out of many.
Rockshire's first innings terminated shortly with no further event of note.