Acton's Feud: A Public School Story

was proposed captain by Worcester and seconded by Raven; and Biffen's confi

ass an afternoon but that he turned out for footer, and coached, encouraged, bullied, stormed,

esignation at their shortcomings; but they found the change refreshing on the whole, for they could stand a lot of bullying from a fellow like Acton, who never seemed to make a mistake, or to have an off-day, and who could give stones and a beating to the best man among them. They respected his skill, and buckled to the wor

ers-about the best forward of Biffen's regenerated lot. There was to be a match with some of the Fifth for the Saturday, and Acton had arranged a preliminary canter the day before to test his attack. Chalmers was the winger, but on the day he was tremendously selfish, and stuck to the ball until h

g to do so. Please remember, Chalm

g by the fellow who's been doing

me, and don'

led an ass," said Chal

lige you, Chalmers, bar your waltzing down the touch-line t

disgusted at the whole business, that I fancy it was Dick's eye that suggested to Chalm

ut of the eleven, which Acton would almost certainly proceed to do; so

to Acton,

called m

of work over the slackest house that ever disgraced the ol

s went

ze," sai

ule," urged Chalm

ton's sweating no end to screw us up to concert-pitch, and flat mut

tantly across to Acton'

n, and I do want a little success in the houses, and how can we get it if the fellows don't combine

ed his forward tea and muffins, and five minutes afterwards Chalmers was finding out what a nice fellow Acton really could be. The next day Chalmers smoothed his ruffled feelings by piling on three goals against the Fifth, who sneaked off the Acres

were rather neat on the bars. He spent a quarter of an hour one evening quietly watching the two in the gym, and he went away thoughtful. Singh Ram and Mehtah thereupon each received a polite note, and "could they call abou

star of Corker's. Would two hours' classics, on alternate nights, meet his case? He shall have 'em, bless him! He shall know what crops Horace grew on his little farm, and all the other rot which gains Perry Exhibitions. Hodgson may strong coffee and wet towel per noctem; but, with John Acton as coach, Raven shal