uet, "squash" balls, and a yard
ball. From the school Custos--"Titchy"--a noble supply of stationery
was procured. Moreover, young Kinloch announced that his mother had
given him three pounds to spend upon the decoration of No. 15, so
Scaife declared his intention of spending a similar sum, and in
consequence No. 15 became a gorgeous apartment, the cynosure of every
eye that passed. The characters of the three boys were revealed
plainly enough by their simple furnishings. Scaife bought sporting
prints, a couple of Detaille's lithographs, and an easy-chair, known to
dwellers upon the Hill as a "frowst;" Kinloch hung upon his side of the
wall four pretty reproductions of French engravings, and with the help
of three yards of velveteen and some cheap lace he made a very passable
imitation of the mantel-cover in his mother's London boudoir; John
scorned velveteen, lace, "frowsts," and French engravings. He put his
money into a pair of red curtains, and one excellent photogravure of
Landseer's "Children of the Mist." Having a few shillings to spare, he
bought half a dozen ferns, which were placed in a box by the window,
and watered so diligently that they died prematurely.

Secondly, John played in a house-game at football, and learned the
difference between a scrimmage at a small preparatory school and the
genuine thing at Harrow. Lawrence insisted that all new boys should
play, and the Caterpillar informed him that he would have to learn the
rules of Harrow "footer" by heart, and pass a stiff examination in them
before the House Eleven, with the penalty of being forced to sing them
in Hall if he failed to satisfy his examiners. The Duffer lent him a
House-shirt of green and white stripes, and a pair of white duck
shorts, and with what pride John put them on, thinking of the far
distant day when he would wear a "fez" [2] instead of the commonplace
house-cap! Lawrence said a few words.

"You'll have to play the compulsory games, Verney, which begin after
the Goose Match,[3] but I want to see you playing as hard as ever you
can in the house-games. You'll be knocked about a bit; but a Verney
won't mind that--eh?"

"Rather not," said John, feeling very valiant.

Thirdly, there was the first Sunday, and the first sermon of the Head
Master, with its plain teaching about the opportunities and perils of
Public School life. John found himself mightily affected by the
singing, and the absence of shrill treble voices.