"Boys, I have an announcement to make."  
The whole school were gathered for the usual morning prayers, the masters each at the head of his class; and when the reading was over, the doctor, instead of dismissing them to their classes as usual, still stood at his desk, and the boys looked up eagerly. Was it a holiday, or a challenge from some neighbouring school to a football match?
 
Alas, for such hopes! It was neither the one nor the other. It was something which only interested a very few of the most industrious there.
 
"The Newlet gold medal examination for mathematics will be held in a month's time from now; and it will be needful for intending competitors to hand in their names to their masters at once. I trust that the school will be well represented at the examination. We lost the medal last year, though we had a very good average; but the year before that, Kesterway, who was then only in the Fourth, gained it. That debars him from again trying for it; but I hope that others will enter the field, and do as[Pg 104] well as he did. The second and third boys gain silver medals. That is all. Dismiss to your classes."
 
"I say, Dobby, there is a chance for you to distinguish yourself," whispered one boy in the lazy one's ear, as the Fourth trooped away. And Dobson glared, for of all things, mathematics was his weak point.
 
"Dobson cannot do it," laughed Warren, overhearing the words. "His system of mathematics is erratic. When it comes to eating tarts at some one else's expense, it is wonderful how many he can take without counting them up; but if he has to treat—well, one multiplies itself into twenty."
 
"You shut up," growled Dobson. "I never had tarts at your expense."
 
"No, my son, and you never will," laughed Warren. "Hurry up and take your place. You know where it is—top wrong end."
 
Mr. Delermain entered, and the class settled down to work; but Ralph found himself pondering over that prize which was offered. True, figures were not his strongest point; but then he had a great belief that any one who sets his mind to a thing can manage to do it in time, and, somehow, he felt that it would be very nice to take that medal home and show it to Irene.
 
So when recess was called, he managed to get hold of Warren and question him about it.
 
"The Newlet," explained the monitor. "Well, it[Pg 105] certainly is rather stiff. I suppose that I must go in for it, though I don't think I shall stand much chance. There will be Philmore and Standish of the Fifth; I don't know if Elgert will try for it. He thinks no end of his mathematics, but if you ask me, I think that a crib has a good deal to do with it."
 
"A crib?"
 
"Yes. You know. Don't know what a crib is!" as Ralph shook his head. "Oh, you sweet innocent, I thought I explained that to you before! It is a book with all the answers in it——"
 
"That is cheating," said Ralph. And Warren nodded.
 
"Of course it is; but it is frequently done, not only for exams, but for class work. Suppose a fellow is late in—been at cricket or anything—and he hasn't got time for prep., and don't want to lose his place, a crib comes in very handy; only some fellows always use 'em, because they are so lazy——"
 
"Dobson, for instance," suggested Ralph. But Warren laughed, and shook his head.
 
"Bless you, no. He is too lazy even to use a crib. He does not even pretend to do his lessons; and he is in pretty little danger of losing his place, seeing that it is always at the bottom of the class."
 
"Well, I think it mean and dishonourable to use cribs," Ralph declared. "If I could not manage without that I would not manage at all."
 
"It is pretty often done," Warren replied. He was[Pg 106] not quite guiltless himself; and he felt a trifle ashamed of Ralph's honest wrath. "I suppose it is wrong; only a fellow does not think so at the time. But you were asking about the Newlet. It is stiff, but it is worth winning——"
 
"I should like to try for it," murmured Ralph. And the monitor stared.
 
"You! Well, there is nothing to prevent you from doing so; only you will have to grind awfully, if you don't crib——"
 
"I shall not do that," interrupted Ralph firmly. "Once for all, let that be understood. If I cannot stand a chance without cheating, I will not go in for it."
 
"Well, then, it is just grinding, that is all."
 
"Grinding," repeated Ralph, raising his brows. And Warren laughed again.
 
"Bless your heart! It is refreshing to find any one as innocent as you are. Grinding, my dear fellow, is working, swatting, putting in full time, giving up games and larks and story books, and working on every moment you have got to spare. It is living on mathematics all the time."
 
"In plain words, it is working hard," laughed Ralph. "And if a thing is worth doing, it is worth working well for——"
 
"Right you are. Go ahead, and good luck. You are letting yourself in for a nice thing, though; but, I suppose, that if you enter you will stick it out. Best tell Mr. Delermain; it will please him to have[Pg 107] you enter. He likes his Form well represented, even though we cannot all win."
 
Warren was right in that; the master was very pleased when Ralph spoke to him about it.
 
"I should like to go in for it, sir," the boy said. "I suppose it seems rather absurd; but I could try at least, and the study will not do me any harm."
 
"Not if it is honest study, Rexworth," replied Mr. Delermain. And those truthful eyes were raised steadily to his own.
 
"It will not be anything else, sir," Ralph said. "If I cannot do it honestly, I shall not do it at all."
 
"That is the way, Rexworth." Mr. Delermain laid one hand on the boy's shoulder as he spoke. "And even if you do not win, the work itself is sure to prove of great use to you later on. By all means enter; and if you want any assistance or advice, do not hesitate to come to me. I shall always be very glad to do anything in my power ............