Mike

season had not begun, and except during the cricket season they were in the habit of devoting their powerful minds at breakfast a

Whoever got it usually gloated over it in silence till urged wrathfully by the multitude to let them know what had happened; when it would appear that Joe had notched his seventh century, or that Reggie had been run out when h

losure. Indeed, Marjory Jackson, aged fourteen, had on three several occasions been fined pudding at lunch for her caustic comments on the batting of her brother Reggie in important fixture

small Jackson, wrestling with bread-and-milk, and an occasional re

said Mrs. Jackson p

. So," she added with a satanic chuckle, "I squeezed a sponge over him. He swallowed an

rjo

his mouth wide open. I had to

t have ch

th satisfaction. "Jam, p

kson lo

ore punctual when he go

going to Wrykyn?" a

d across the table to Mrs. Jackson. "The house is full, but he is turni

following term would be his last at Wrykyn, and, having won through so far without the inflicti

he said

fifteen. Much too old for that private school. He has

k enough for t

do him a wo

e same house. Th

to Wain's. He had the same feeling for Mike that most boys of eighteen have for their fif

ns of finishing it, and was now at liberty to turn her mind to less pressing matte

kyn. I bet he gets into the

besides heaps of last year's seconds, it's hardly likely that a kid

sion stun

n before you, an

as a sound bat, though lacking the brilliance of his elder brothers, and he fancied that his cap was

kson int

Marjory," she said. "You m

section of her sli

es," she muttered tr

d a shade too long for his body. He was evidently going to be very tall some day. In face, he was curiously like his brother Joe, whose appearance is familiar to every one who takes an interest in first-clas

he same remark nearly every morning

ttle beast," was his refere

rk was of a pr

at's under

again was stereo--"you really mu

errupted b

to Wrykyn next ter

tter to say you're going to W

going to Wryky

composition, in six-eight time, as follows: "Mike Wryky. Mike Wry

cloth over that kid,

lly stare for some seconds, suddenly drew a long

t was a great moment. He rose

"I say, what's

urn had passed from spectators to active participants in the net practice in the meadow. For several years now Saunders had been the chosen man, and his attitude towards the Jacksons was that of the Faithful Old Retainer in melodrama. Mike was his special favourite. He felt that in him he had material of the finest order to work upon. There was nothing the matter with Bob. In Bob he would turn out

rjory walked with the profes

ders," she said. "All the boys were the

was thinking h

e'll get into t

ol team! He'll be playing for England in anothe

he'd been at school two years. Don't you think he might, Saunders? He's awfully good,

oked a litt

ntlemen of eighteen, and nineteen perhaps, and it stands to reason they're stronger. There's a young gentleman, perhaps, doesn't know as much about what I call real playing as Master Mike's forgotten; but then he can hit 'em ha

e's joll

it doesn't happen. It's quite likely that it will, only all I say is don't count on it. I only hope that they

Saunders. What

forward the alpha and omugger of batting. They'll make him pat balls back to the bowler which he'd cut for

was playing more strongly than usual. Marjory had to run to the end of the meadow to fetch one st

miss," said the professional, "they'd have

beside the net, and w