Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/91

 *came a source of distress to the expert. 'It comes to this,' said the captain of the School Fifteen, after a House cup-tie in which dismay had been carried into the camp of the opposition, 'if this sort of thing goes on, we shall have to think about playing "Cad" Northcote for the School.' The shouts of derision with which this prophecy was received are still in my ears. However 'this sort of thing' continued to go on, and sure enough, to the amazement of men and gods, the day dawned on which 'Cad' Northcote did play for the School. He dominated the scene of action in every game in which he took part; but such was the strength of public opinion that the ruling powers withheld his 'cap' until the very last moment, the eve of the chief game of the year. It was the match against our great school rivals, a neighboring seminary, of which, sir, I discern by certain unfortunate tricks of manner that you are an alumnus."

"Never mind about that," said the solicitor; "get on with your story. It is enormously interesting. Did you play against us in the great match?"

"Yes, I played against you in the great match. The 'fez' of the School Fifteen, which should have been mine weeks before, was duly presented to me on the eve of 'Waterloo,' for although it was a dreadful crime to be 'unpopular,' it was yet highly necessary to 'take on' the French. And I recall now with some amusement the manner in which I contrived to flout the amour propre of the venerable institution into whose service I was pressed. Instead of turning out in the garish colors with which I had been honored at the eleventh