to come out first, when it's more likely all I shall do will
be to scrape through with a pass, and not take honours at all."

At this point Mr Smith looked in to wish Jack joy before he started,
and greatly to my relief Billy entered at the same time.

The latter visitor was quite unexpected.

"Well, Billy, what's up?" I inquired.

"Ga on! As if you didn't know," replied the grinning youth.

"I don't know."

"What," said Billy, jerking his head towards Jack, "ain't he goin' to
'is 'sam, then?"

"Yes, he's going to his examination this morning."

"And I are a-goin' to give him a proper shine afore he goes," replied
the boy, almost fiercely.

"Of course you are, Billy," said Jack. "I believe I should come to
grief altogether if I went without having my boots polished."

"In corse you would," said the delighted Billy, commencing operations
forthwith.

"I say, governor," said he, looking up, halfway through his task, "I
give the animal a topper last night."

"What animal?" inquired Jack.

"That there 'Orksbury, so I did. Him and 'is pal comes along and twigs
me a-sottin' on my box. `That's the kid. Mashing,' says 'Orksbury.
Mashing he up to me, and says he, `Would you like a shillin', my boy?'
says he. `You're 'avin' a lark with me,' says I. `No, I ain't,' says
'e, 'oldin' it out. `What do yer want?' says I. `You know Smith?' says
'Orksbury. `That ain't no concarn of yourn,' says I. `You ain't got no
concarn with my governor,' says I. `Oh, then you don't want the
shillin'?' says he. `No, I don't,' says I, seein' they was up to games.
`What do you mean by it?' says Mashing, a-pullin' my ear. (Bless you,
'e don't know the way to pull a cove's ear; my old gal can do it
proper.) `No one is going to do anything to Smith,' says 'e. `We only
want you to give him this,' says he, pullin' out a bit of paper. `Don't
give it 'im,' says 'Orksbury; `he's a young thief,' says 'e, `and 'e'll
only spoil it all.' `I will so,' says I, `and I'll spoil you too,' says
I, aimin' a brush at his 'ed. They gives me a wipin' for it, but there,
they can't 'arf do it. And they says if I want my shillin' I can go and
get it from that cantin' son of a thief--meanin' you, governor--what
kep' me. Bless you, they did jaw, them two, but I give that 'Orksbury a
topper, which I owed 'im one afore."

This spirited address on the part of our young friend I need hardly say
interested us all deeply. We all resented the outrag