[1] Set at the fictional public school of Eckleton, the story centres upon one of the school houses called Kay's, the riotous boys therein, its tactless, unpopular master Mr Kay, and Kennedy, who becomes the new head boy.

Mr Kay oversees a school concert at the end of the term, and Fenn is one of the performers.

He tries to restore order, but the students continue stamping and abruptly start leaving after Fenn has finished playing.

During the summer holidays, Fenn plays cricket while his friends Kennedy and Jimmy Silver, who are both members of Blackburn's House, go to an army-style camp.

Walton is the leading troublemaker in Kay's, and Kennedy decides the only way to stop him is by winning a fight against him.

They follow the rules of boxing and Jimmy acts as timekeeper, but Walton cheats by injuring Kennedy with an illegal hit.

Fenn sneaks out to the nearby town's theatre to see a show written by his older brother.

Spotting Mr Kay and two other masters in the audience, he tries to return to school unseen, but gets lost.

A stranger in town steals his pocket watch and he loses his prefect's cap before he finally makes it back to Eckleton at night.