With a generosity very few appreciated, he forbore to claim Mr Parrett's assistance at all during the last few days of practice, but he got Fairbairn and one or two of the schoolhouse seniors instead, and with their help kept up the courage and hopes of the young Welchers, wisely taking care, however, by a little occasional judicious snubbing, to prevent them from becoming too cocky or sure of the result.
It was quite an event to see the Welchers' flag hoisted once more on the cricket-ground.

Indeed, it was such an event that the doctor himself came down to watch the play, while the muster of schoolboys was almost as large as at a senior house match.
Among all the spectators, none were more interested in the event than the seniors, who had taken upon themselves the responsibility of "coaching" their respective teams.
Riddell was quite excited and nervous as he watched his men go out to field, while Bloomfield, though he would have been the last to own it, felt decidedly fidgety for the fate of his young champions.
However, Parretts, who went in first, began better than any one expected.

Parson and King went boldly--not to say rashly--to work from the outset, and knocked the bowling about considerably before a lucky ball from Philpot got round the bat of the former and demolished his wicket.
Wakefield followed, and he too managed to put a few runs together; but as soon as his wicket fell a dismal quarter of an hour followed for the Parretts.

Boy after boy, in all the finery of spotless flannel and pads and gloves, swaggered up to the wicket, and, after taking "middle" in magnificent style, and giving a lordly glance round the field, as though to select the best point for placing their strokes, lifted their bats miserably at the first ball that came, and had no chance of lifting it at another.
It was a melancholy spectacle, and far more calculated to excite pity than amusement.

Bloomfield chafed and growled for some time, and then, unable to stand it any longer, went off in disgust, leaving the young reprobates to their fate.
Scarcely less remarkable than the collapse of Parrett's was the steadiness of Welch's in the field.