from the warm repose of your own study,
black figures rushing across the rain-swept courts on the way to their
class-rooms (it always rained at Fernhurst), and Gordon was essentially
a hedonist.

"Yes, I suppose the higher you go up the less work you do," said
Mansell. "When I was with old 'Bogus' I used to prepare my lessons
sometimes, and, what's more, with a dictionary."

"Oh, _Quantum mutatus ab illo_," sighed Gordon.

"Yes, you know," said Betteridge, "the higher you get up the school the
less you need worry about what you do. The prefect is supposed to be the
model of what a Public School boy should be. And yet he is about the
fastest fellow in the school. If I got caught in Davenham's study by
the Chief, even if I said I was only borrowing a pencil, I should get in
the deuce of a row. But Meredith can sit there all hall and say he's
making inquiries about a boxing competition. He's trusted. The lower
forms aren't allowed to prepare in their studies. They might use a crib,
so they have to work in the day-room or big school. The Fifth is trusted
to work, so it can spend school hours in its studies. Of course the
Third works the whole time, while the Fifth just writes the translation
between the lines and then plays barge cricket. It's no use trusting a
Public School boy. Put faith in him and he'll take advantage of it; and
yet there are still some who say the Public School system is
satisfactory!"

"And I am one of them," said Mansell. "I've had a damned good term so
far, and next term, when I get that big study, I shall have a still
finer time. School may be bad as a moral training, but I live to enjoy
myself. Here's to the Public School system. Long may it live!"

Betteridge smiled rather sadly; he was not an athlete.

* * * * *

The summer exams turned out a lamentably dull affair. Claremont
superintended the Shell and the Lower Fifth. Anyone who wished to crib
could have done so easily. But hardly anyone took the trouble. Mansell
swore he would stay where he was. Ruddock, Johnstone and the other old
stagers were all of the same opinion. Gordon had determined to get high
enough for a promotion, but no higher; tenth would do; and it was easy
to get up there. The small boys in the front bench were all Balliol
scholars in embryo; it would not pay them to crib. The great law of
expediency overhung all proceedings. The result was that they were as
lifeless and dull as most othe