"Sprained his wrist?" said Mike. "How did he do that?""During the brawl. Apparently one of his efforts got home on yourelbow instead of your expressive countenance, and whether it was thatyour elbow was particularly tough or his wrist particularly fragile, Idon't know. Anyhow, it went. It's nothing bad, but it'll keep him outof the game to-morrow.""I say, what beastly rough luck! I'd no idea. I'll go round.""Not a bad scheme. Close the door gently after you, and if you seeanybody downstairs who looks as if he were likely to be going over tothe shop, ask him to get me a small pot of some rare old jam and tellthe man to chalk it up to me. The jam Comrade Outwood supplies to usat tea is all right as a practical joke or as a food for those anxiousto commit suicide, but useless to anybody who values life."On arriving at Mr. Downing's and going to Adair's study, Mike foundthat his late antagonist was out. He left a note informing him of hiswillingness to play in the morrow's match. The lock-up bell rang as hewent out of the house.

　　A spot of rain fell on his hand. A moment later there was a continuouspatter, as the storm, which had been gathering all day, broke inearnest. Mike turned up his coat-collar, and ran back to Outwood's.

　　"At this rate," he said to himself, "there won't be a match at allto-morrow."* * * * *When the weather decides, after behaving well for some weeks, to showwhat it can do in another direction, it does the thing thoroughly.

　　When Mike woke the next morning the world was grey and dripping.

　　Leaden-coloured clouds drifted over the sky, till there was not atrace of blue to be seen, and then the rain began again, in thegentle, determined way rain has when it means to make a day of it.

　　It was one of those bad days when one sits in the pavilion, damp anddepressed, while figures in mackintoshes, with discoloured buckskinboots, crawl miserably about the field in couples.

　　Mike, shuffling across to school in a Burberry, met Adair at Downing'sgate.

　　These moments are always difficult. Mike stopped--he could hardly walkon as if nothing had happened--and looked down at his feet.

　　"Coming across?" he said awkwardly.

　　"Right ho!" said Adair.

　　They walked on in silence.

　　"It's only about ten to, isn't it?" said Mike.

　　Adair fished out his watch, and examined it with an elaborate careborn of nervousness.

　　"About nine to.""Good. We've got plenty of time.""Yes.""I hate having to hurry over to school.""So do I.""I often do cut it rather fine, though.""Yes. So do I.""Beastly nuisance when one does.""Beastly.""It's only about a couple of minutes from the houses to the school, Ishould think, shouldn't you?""Not much more. Might be three.""Yes. Three if one didn't hurry.""Oh, yes, if one didn't hurry."Another silence.

　　"Beastly day," said Adair.

　　"Rotten."Silence again.

　　"I say," said Mike, scowling at his toes, "awfully sorry about yourwrist.""Oh, that's all right. It was my fault.""Does it hurt?""Oh, no, rather not, thanks.""I'd no idea you'd crocked yourself.""Oh, no, that's all right. It was only right at the end. You'd havesmashed me anyhow.""Oh, rot.""I bet you anything you like you would.""I bet you I shouldn't.... Jolly hard luck, just before the match.""Oh, no.... I say, thanks awfully for saying you'd play.""Oh, rot.... Do you think we shall get a game?"Adair inspected the sky carefully.

　　"I don't know. It looks pretty bad, doesn't it?""Rotten. I say, how long will your wrist keep you out of cricket?""Be all right in a week. Less, probably.""Good.""Now that you and Smith are going to play, we ought to have a jollygood season.""Rummy, Smith turning out to be a cricketer.""Yes. I should think he'd be a hot bowler, with his height.""He must be jolly good if he was only just out of the Eton team lastyear.""Yes.""What's the time?" asked Mike.

　　Adair produced his watch once more.

　　"Five to.""We've heaps of time.""Yes, heaps.""Let's stroll on a bit down the road, shall we?""Right ho!"Mike cleared his throat.

　　"I say.""Hullo?""I've been talking to Smith. He was telling me that you thought I'dpromised to give Stone and Robinson places in the----""Oh, no, that's all right. It was only for a bit. Smith told me youcouldn't have done, and I saw that ............