Yet
it was Raffles who was the life and soul of the party, and that not
by meretricious virtue of his cricket. There happened not to be
another cricketer among us, and it was on their own subjects that
Raffles laughed with the lot in turn and in the lump. I never knew
him in quite such form. I will not say he was a boy among them,
but he was that rarer being, the man of the world who can enter
absolutely into the fun and fervor of the salad age. My cares and
my regrets had never been more acute, but Raffles seemed a man
without either in his life.
He was not, however, the hero of the Old Boys' Match, and that was
expected of him by all. the school. There was a hush when he went
in, a groan when he came out. I had no reason to suppose he was not
trying; these things happen to the cricketer who plays out of his
class; but when the great Raffles went on to bowl, and was hit all.
over the field, I was not so sure. It certainly failed to affect
his spirits; he was more brilliant than ever at our hospitable board;
and after dinner came the meeting at which he and Nasmyth were to
speak.
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