rthing would be faithfully
exacted.

As Nestie had at once settled in his mind that Speug was a young
gentleman of high conduct and excellent manners--and Nestie, with all
his sweetness, was as obstinate as a mule--nothing remained for Speug
but to act as far as he could up to his new character. With this example
of diligence by his side, he was roused to such exertion that he emerged
from long division and plunged into the rule of three, while Nestie
marvelled at his accomplishments--"for I'm not a clever chap like you,
P-Peter." Speug had also accumulated a considerable collection of pencil
sketches, mostly his own, in which life at Muirtown Seminary was treated
very broadly indeed, and as he judged this portfolio unlikely to be
appreciated by Nestie, and began himself to have some scruple in having
his own name connected with it, it was consigned to the flames, and any
offer of an addition, which boys made to Speug as a connoisseur in
Rabelaisean art, was taken as a ground of offence. His personal habits
had been negligent to a fault, and Nestie was absurdly careful about his
hands, so Peter was reduced to many little observances he had
overlooked, and would indeed have exposed himself to scathing criticism
had it not been that his sense of humour was limited and, so far as it
went, of a markedly practical turn.

As Nestie never ceased to exalt this paladin of chivalry, and all the
virtues which he had discovered at school, Mr. Molyneux hungered to see
him, and so Speug was invited to tea on a Saturday evening--an
invitation he accepted with secret pride and outward confusion of face.
All the time which could be saved that day from the sermons was devoted
by Mr. Molyneux and his son to the commissariat, and it was pretty to
see the Molyneuxs going from shop to shop collecting the feast. With
much cunning Nestie had drawn from Speug that fried sausages (pork) with
mashed potatoes, followed up by jam tarts and crowned with (raisin)
cake, was a meal to live for, and all this they had, with shortbread and
marmalade, thrown in as relishes. When Nestie was not watching at the
upper window for Peter's coming he was gloating over the table, and
pater, putting last touches to his exposure of Infant Baptism, ran out
and in to see that nothing had been forgotten, for they did not give
many feasts, and this was one of gratitude. Peter was late, because he
had gathered his whole establishment to dress him, including the old
gro