The reference was a popular one, and the Den took it up also. It fell to extolling Ponty to the very heavens, and abasing Mansfield to the opposite extremity, while it held up its hands in horror at the man who could seek to make the good order of Templeton the price of his favour with the Head Master.
But, when the little outburst had subsided, the awkward question still remained--What was to be done?
"Of course n.o.body will be cad enough to go to the levee after what he said," said Heathcote, who, warmed by the admiring glances of Coote and the success of his last observation, felt called upon to speak for the a.s.sembly in general.
"Rather not! You won"t go, will you, d.i.c.k?" said Pauncefote.
"Don"t know," said that hero, shortly.
The Den was startled. What did d.i.c.k mean by "Don"t know"? Was he going to knuckle in after all and join the "saints?"
The uncertainty had a very depressing effect on Heathcote"s enthusiasm, which had calculated all along on the countenance of his leader. Coote, too, cautiously separated himself from Gosse, who was shouting sedition at the top of his voice, and drew off to more neutral territory. Smith and Pauncefote kept up their cheers for Ponty, but gradually dropped the groans for Mansfield, and altogether the howls of the Den toned down to the roar of a sucking dove as it got whispered abroad that d.i.c.k Richardson "didn"t know."
The two days that followed were days of suspense to the Den.
"Is d.i.c.k going?" was the question every one asked.
"He doesn"t know," was the invariable answer.
Under these circ.u.mstances, it will be understood, but little enthusiasm could be called up over the rival toilets of the fraternity. Culver"s dress-coat had been returned to its lawful owner long since, and for that reason, if for no other, he determined not to attend. Heathcote"s choker and white gloves were the worse for wear, so he was not anxious; and Coote, whose one strong point was a watered ribbon watch-chain, was rumoured to be weak in collars, and, on the whole, not a "hot man" at all, or likely to show up.
As to d.i.c.k, opinions were divided as to what he could do if he went. It was known his "d.i.c.ky" had fallen off, but, on the other hand, he had brought back a pair of patent leather pumps, which might make him feel it his duty to attend.
"Look here, old man," asked Heathcote, for about the hundredth time, the evening before the levee, "are you going, or are you not?"
"Don"t know," replied d.i.c.k. "Are you?"
What a question for a leader to ask his lieutenant! d.i.c.k knew it was ridiculous, but he guessed shrewdly it might choke off further inquiry.
And it did.
Heathcote, however, had other counsellors besides d.i.c.k, who were neither doubtful nor sparing in their advice on the great question. A hasty meeting of the "Select Sociables" was summoned, by means of Braider, that very evening, to take into consideration the action of the Club at the forthcoming levee, at which it was agreed unanimously that, after the Captain"s threat, no member of that honourable body should, on any account, show up.
Heathcote held up his hand for the resolution with the others, and felt sure, in his own mind, d.i.c.k would have done the same.
"Mind, n.o.body shows up, on any pretext," said Spokes, as the meeting separated. "We"re on our honour, and, of course, no one mentions the Club out-of-doors."
Of course, n.o.body would think of such a thing.
Heathcote felt a good deal concerned as the evening went on, and still no sign came from d.i.c.k. It wasn"t exactly kind to keep a fellow in suspense like this. The only thing was to take the bull by the horns, and announce what _he_ was going to do. Then, possibly, d.i.c.k might show his hand.
"I"ve decided not to show up at the levee," said Georgie, on the morning of the eventful day.
"Have you?" said d.i.c.k, with a most provoking indifference.
"Yes," said the cunning Georgie. "I tell you what, d.i.c.k; while it"s going on, you and I can get the top court and play off our heat for the handicap. What do you say?"
"Don"t know."
Whereupon, Heathcote wished that two words in the English language could be suspended, and went off to see if any comfort was going in the Den.
But no.
"What"s d.i.c.k going to do?" asked almost everybody.
"He doesn"t know," groaned Heathcote.
Whereupon, the Den, as well as Georgie, wished ill to those two unlucky words.
The morning pa.s.sed, and still no ray of light illumined the doubters.
d.i.c.k got twenty lines from Pledge for jumping over the geranium bed in the Quad, and knocking off a flower in the act; and every one guessed this would decide him against the levee.
But at dinner-time a rumour spread, on the authority of Coote, that he had put on a clean collar since morning school, and public opinion immediately veered round to the opposite direction. No sooner, however, was dinner done than he was seen to fetch his tennis racket from his study; and once more it was surmised that he was going, after all, to play off his heat with Georgie instead of attending the ceremony. And that supposition was in turn dashed to the ground, when it was discovered that he had got the bat in order to give it to a messenger from Splicers, the racket maker, to be tightened up in the top cord.
Afternoon school dragged tediously on, and the Den grew desperate.
Fellows went off to dress. But what was the use of Heathcote putting on his choker, or Smith and Pauncefote parting their hairs, when they didn"t know whether they were going to the levee or not?
Heathcote made one final effort to "draw" the Sphinx.
"Come on," said he, "we"ll bag the court if we are sharp, and get an hour"s quiet play."
"I"ve got no racket," said d.i.c.k.
"I say, d.i.c.k, _are_ you going to the levee--do tell us?"
"I don"t know. What do you want to know for?"
"I--I vote we don"t go," said Georgie, coaxingly. "I"m not going."
"I know that."
"Are you?" and there was a tone of desperate pathos in the boy"s voice.
"Haven"t I told you, a hundred and fifty times, I _don"t know_?" replied d.i.c.k, scarcely less desperate.
Heathcote gave it up, and joined the Den, who were waiting about, in anxious groups, near the door of the Hall, with their ornaments in their hands, ready to put on at a moment"s notice if necessary.
Presently d.i.c.k strolled up and joined them.
Hurrah! he had not got his patent leather boots on, after all! A weight fell from the minds of half the beholders as they cast their eyes down at his dusty double soles. And yet, if he wasn"t going in, what was he hanging about there for?
d.i.c.k would have been very sorry if any of the Den had guessed what was pa.s.sing in his mind. He didn"t know what to do. If there had been no one but himself, it wouldn"t have mattered. But there was that young a.s.s Heathcote, and Coote too, who were certain to do as he did; and the f.a.g of making up his mind for three people was not fair to a fellow.
And yet the Ghost"s letter somehow stuck in his mind, and the ballast he had taken on board during the holidays made it harder to play pitch and toss with himself than it had been. He didn"t like the way Mansfield had almost dared them to stay away. Because, if it came to that, he would just as soon let fellows see he wasn"t going to be bullied. On the other hand, the Captain had as good as said it wanted some pluck to stand out against the rowdies, and that was an argument in favour of showing up at levee. The worst of it was, when once you showed up, you were committed to the steady lot, and couldn"t well back out. If young Heathcote--no, he was bound to look after Heathcote.
So, to the amazement and consternation of the Den, after loafing about at the door for ten minutes, d.i.c.k strolled into the Hall, and made his way up to the platform.
One or two, including Coote, followed him immediately. Others remained long enough to put on their cuffs and chokers, and then followed suit.
One or two looked at the door, and went back again, and a few talked about treason and Rule 5.