"Besides, I don't believe I have flannels," added he.
"What, a Willoughby captain and no flannels! You'll have to get a suit at once, do you hear?
But, I say, why don't you come down to the river with Porter and me?
We're going to have a little practice spin, and you could steer us.

It would do you more good than sticking indoors.

Come along." Riddell protested he would rather not, and that he couldn't steer; but Fairbairn pooh-poohed both objections, and finally carried off his man to the river, where his unwonted appearance in the stern of the schoolhouse pair-oar caused no little astonishment and merriment among the various early visitors who usually frequented the waters of the Craydle.
Despite these unflattering remarks, and despite the constant terror he was in of piloting his boat into the bank, or running foul of other boats, Riddell decidedly enjoyed his little outing, the more so as the exercise and occupation drove away entirely for a time all thoughts of the coming visit of the ill-behaved juniors.
But as soon as he returned to the school the prospect of this ordeal began again to haunt him, and spoilt morning chapel for him completely.
As he stood during the service in his captain's place he could not prevent his eye wandering hurriedly down the ranks of boys opposite and wondering how many of them he would be called upon to interview in his study before the term was over.

As he reached the end of the array his eye rested on Telson close to the door, talking and laughing behind his hand with Parson, who listened in an unconcerned way, and looked about him as if he felt himself to be the monarch of all he surveyed.

These were two of the boys who would wait upon him in his study immediately after prayers! Riddell turned quite miserable at the idea.
Prayers ended at last, and while the other monitors repaired to the Sixth Form room to discuss the presentation of the petition as narrated in our last chapter, Riddell walked dejectedly to his study and prepared to receive company.
No one came for a long time, and Riddell was beginning to hope that, after all, the dreaded interview was not to come off, or that there was a mistake somewhere, and some one else was to deal with the culprits instead of himself, when a scuttling of footsteps down the passage made his blood run cold and his heart sink into his boots.
"I _must_ be cool," he said to himself, fiercely, as a knock sounded at the door, "or I shall make a fool of myself.