Tom, Dick and Harry Part 35

"The wonder to me is," said Crofter, "Jarman has not caught it before now. We're not the only house he's insulted, although I don't think he's tried it on with any of the others as he has with us."

"Some day he'll find he's sailing a little too near the wind," said Tempest, with a pleasant confusion of metaphors; "and then he'll get bowled out."

"Upon my word, though," said Wales, "I think we've a right to get that extra drill of yours wiped out. It stands against you on the register, and it's a scandal to the house."

"They seem to think it so," observed Pridgin, as just then a loud chorus of war-whoops came up from the region of the f.a.ggery. "Somebody had better stop that row!"

"Jarman had better come and do it," said Tempest, laughing. "He's got charge of the morals of Sharpe's house now."

When in due time I returned, somewhat depressed by what I had overheard, to the f.a.ggery, I discovered that the particular occasion of the triumphal shout referred to had been a proposal by Langrish to celebrate the approaching Fifth of November by hanging, and, if possible, burning Mr Jarman in effigy, for which purpose an overcoat of mine had already been impounded. I had the greatest difficulty in rescuing it from the hands of the marauders, who represented to me that it was my duty to sacrifice something for the public good.

"Why don't you let them have _your_ coat, then?" I asked.

"Because," was the insinuating reply, "it wouldn't burn as well."

"You won't have mine," I insisted. "But I tell you what; I've got an old hat and pair of boots I--I don't often wear--you can have them."

A shout of laughter greeted this ingenuous offer--but it saved my top- coat. And when in time my flat-topped pot-hat and tan boots were produced, there was general rejoicing. Each Philosopher present tried them on in turn, and finally I was compelled to wear them, as well as my top-coat, for the rest of the evening, and a.s.sist in a full-dress rehearsal of the proposed hanging of the discipline master, in which, greatly to my inconvenience, I was made to personate Mr Jarman.

The following day I was enjoying a little hard-earned solitude, and amusing myself by leaning over the bridge and watching the boats below, when a voice at my side startled me.

"Ah, my polite letter-writer, is that you? The very chap I want."

It was Crofter. My instinct at first, especially on the sly reference to my letter of apology, was to fly. On second thoughts it seemed to me wiser to remain. Crofter and Tempest were on better terms now. It would be best to be civil.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Can you steer a boat?"

"A little," said I.

"Does that mean you can run it into the bank every few yards?"

"Oh no, I've often steered Tempest and Pridgin."

"Come along, then; I'm going to have a spin up to Middle-weir."

If there was one thing I enjoyed it was steering a boat, and I was not long in accepting the invitation.

Crofter was not conferring a favour on me; only making a convenience of me. So that I was not in any way making up to him. Our relations were that of senior and f.a.g only; and Tempest's and Pridgin's warnings to beware when he was particularly friendly (even if it had not already been cancelled by the fact that they now frequently had Crofter in their rooms) could hardly apply now.

For all that, I did not feel quite comfortable, and was glad, on the whole, that the embarkation did not take place under the eyes of my patrons.

For some time Crofter sculled on in silence, giving me directions now and again to keep in the stream, or take the boat well out at the corners--which I considered superfluous. Presently, however, when we were clear of Low Heath he slacked off and began to talk.

"I enjoyed that letter of yours," said he; "did you write it all yourself?"

"Yes," said I, feeling and looking very uncomfortable.

"You and Tempest must be quite old chums."

"Yes."

"It's very rough on him, all this business."

"Yes, isn't it?" said I, somewhat won over by this admission.

"The worst of it is, it makes the house run down. I expected we were going to do big things this term."

"It's not Tempest's fault if we don't," said I.

"Of course not. It's Jarman's. Every one knows that. It's rather a pity Tempest takes it so meekly, though. Fellows will think he's either afraid or doesn't care; and neither would be true."

"I should think not."

There was a pause, during which Crofter sculled on. Then he said,--

"Tempest and I don't hit it, somehow. He doesn't like me, does he?"

"Well--no, I don't fancy he does," I admitted.

"I dare say he advises you to fight shy of me, and that sort of thing, eh?"

This was awkward; but I could not well get out of it.

"Yes."

Crofter laughed sweetly.

"I wish he'd let me be friends. I hate to see a fellow coming to grief, and not be allowed to give him a leg-up."

"Tempest's not coming to grief," said I.

"Well, not perhaps that, only it's a pity he's adding to his other troubles by getting head-over-ears in debt. I hear he's been going it pretty well in the shops. You should give him a friendly tip."

This was a revelation to me. I had gathered some time ago, from what Pridgin had said, that there was some fear of it; but I had hoped I had made a mistake.

"Who told you?" said I.

"A good many people are talking about it; including some of the shopmen.

It's just one of those things that a fellow himself never dreams anybody knows about till it's public property. That's why I wish I were on good enough terms to give him the tip."

"If he's owing anybody he'll pay," said I, feeling a great sinking in my heart.

"Look out for that stake in the water there; pull your left! Narrow shave that. Of course he means to pay. What I'm afraid of is, Jarman or England or any of them getting to hear of it. Ever since Sweeten last year got turned out of the heads.h.i.+p of his house, and afterwards expelled, it's seemed to me to be a risky thing for a fellow to run into debt. These shopmen are such sneaks. If they can't get their money from the fellow, they send their bills in to the house master, and sometimes to the head master; and then it's a precious awkward thing.

How are you getting on in your form?"

I had not much spirit to tell him, and if I had there was no time, for just then the swish of a pair of sculls came round the corner behind us, and presently a boat at almost racing speed appeared in sight.