on a tray bearing a decanter

"As you know, I have already secured a nomination for you in theLondon and Oriental Bank. I shall write to-morrow to the managerasking him to receive you at once----""After all, they only gain an extra fortnight of me.""You will leave directly I receive his letter. I shall arrange withthe headmaster that you are withdrawn privately----""_Not_ the sack?""Withdrawn privately. You will not go to school to-morrow. Do youunderstand? That is all. Have you anything to say?"Wyatt reflected. 　　"No, I don't think----"His eye fell on a tray bearing a decanter and a syphon. 　　"Oh, yes," he said. "Can't I mix you a whisky and soda, father, beforeI go off to bed?"* * * * *"Well?" said Mike. 　　Wyatt kicked off his slippers, and began to undress. 　　"What happened?""We chatted.""Has he let you off?""Like a gun. I shoot off almost immediately. To-morrow I take awell-earned rest away from school, and the day after I become thegay young bank-clerk, all amongst the ink and ledgers."Mike was miserably silent. 　　"Buck up," said Wyatt cheerfully. "It would have happened anyhow inanother fortnight. So why worry?"Mike was still silent. The reflection was doubtless philosophic, butit failed to comfort him. Chapter 26 The Aftermath Bad news spreads quickly. By the quarter to eleven interval next daythe facts concerning Wyatt and Mr. Wain were public property. Mike, asan actual spectator of the drama, was in great request as aninformant. As he told the story to a group of sympathisers outside theschool shop, Burgess came up, his eyes rolling in a fine frenzy. 　　"Anybody seen young--oh, here you are. What's all this about JimmyWyatt? They're saying he's been sacked, or some rot."[Illustration: "WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT JIMMY WYATT?"] 　　"So he has--at least, he's got to leave.""What? When?""He's left already. He isn't coming to school again."Burgess's first thought, as befitted a good cricket captain, was forhis team. 　　"And the Ripton match on Saturday!"Nobody seemed to have anything except silent sympathy at his command. 　　"Dash the man! Silly ass! What did he want to do it for! Poor oldJimmy, though!" he added after a pause. "What rot for him!""Beastly," agreed Mike.