Into the house I went, flushed and determined, and quite unaware that by invading Fillet’s study I should walk into the arms of the head master himself.  Up the stairs I rushed, but, as I set foot upon the first landing, Radley, coming out of his room, stood in the way of my further ascent.

“Come in here a minute,” he said.

“Sir, I can’t—­”

He seized me by the right wrist and swung me almost brutally into his room.  I was a muscular stripling, and he meant me to feel his strength.  Suddenly disconcerted, I heard the door slam, and found that Radley was face to face with me.  My breast went up and down with uncontrollable temper, while my wrist, all red and white with the marks of powerful fingers, felt as if it were broken.

“Where were you going?” he demanded, his hard mouth set.

“To Mr. Fillet’s study,” I snapped, purposely omitting the “sir.”

“What for?”

“To apologise for losing the Swimming Cup.”

“In a spirit of sincerity or one of scoffing?”

It was with no desire for veracity, but as a challenge to fight, that I replied:  “One of scoffing.”

“Good.”  Radley’s grey eyes unveiled some of their gentleness, “you can tell the truth still.  Now, Ray, the shock of your disappointment has deprived you of reason, or you, of all people, would see that this tomfoolery outside is unsportsmanlike in the extreme.”

“But, sir,” I ventured, surprised and rather pleased to hear myself mannerly again, “every boy declares I didn’t dive too soon.”

“But unfortunately, Ray,” replied Radley, also pleased, “every boy was not appointed a judge, and your housemaster was.  Now, do you think that the judge’s decision can be overruled by a mere counting of the heads that disagree with him?  I put it to you; undo the damage you’ve done in associating yourself with this exhibition outside—­at this moment you wield more influence than any other boy in the school—­go out and establish order.”

“Sir, I can’t, sir.  I’m their sort of deputy.”

“Ray, there’s a wave of rebellion outside, and you’re nothing more important than the foam on the crest of the wave.  Look here, you’re a magnificent swimmer, the best in the school by a long way”—­thus came the word of praise for which I had hungered so long—­“well, a good swimmer will go out and breast the wave.”

As he said it, he laid his hand gently upon my shoulder, and I felt, as I did once before, that in his peculiar sacramental touch there was something given by him and taken by me.

“But, sir,” I said, desiring to justify myself, “I couldn’t help thinking that Mr. Fillet did it on purpose to pay me out.”

Radley frowned.  “You mustn’t say such things.  But, were it so, any fool can be resentful, while it takes a big man to sacrifice himself and his petty quarrels for the good of great numbers.  You will do it to save the school from hurt.  I have always believed you big enough for these things.”