fellow like you."

John was blushing because he remembered what the Head of the House had
said about the Verneys. Desmond glanced at him keenly. He detested
flattery laid on too thick. But this was a genuine tribute. For the
first time he smiled.

"Thank you, Verney," he said, more genially. "What you say is utter
rot; but it was decent of you to say it, and I'm glad that you and I
are going to be in the same house."

For his life John could not help adding, "And Scaife, you forget
Scaife?" Jealousy pierced him as Scaife's name slipped out.

"Yes, there's the Demon. I always liked him."

"And he likes you."

"Does he? Good old Demon! I like to be liked. That's the Irish in
me. I'm half Irish, you know. I want fellows to be friendly to me.
I'd forgotten Scaife. That's rum too, because he's not the sort one
forgets, is he? No. I wonder if I could get into the Demon's room
next term?"

"I'm to his room. It's a three-room."

"A two-room is much jollier."

"Our room is not bad."

Caesar was hardly listening. John caught a murmur: "The old Demon and
I would get along capitally."

[1] The racquet Professional.

[2] The cap of honour worn by the House Football Eleven.

[3] The Goose Match, the last cricket-match of the year, played between
the Eleven and Old Boys, on the nearest half-holiday to Michaelmas Day.

[4] A fashionable "tuck"-shop.

[5] H.R.H. Prince Thomas of Savoy, Duke of Genoa, was elected King by
the Cortes of Spain, October 3, 1869, while he was a boy at Harrow.
The crown was finally declined January 1, 1870. The Prince was
nick-named "King Tom."

[6] To "turf," _i.e._ to kick.

[7] Calling over.

[8] John Lyon founded Harrow School, 1571.

[9] Boys who have not been more than two years in the school are
eligible as "Torpids;" out of each house a Torpid football Eleven is
chosen.

CHAPTER III

KRAIPALE [1]

"Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone--
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own."

Some five years afterwards John Verney learned what had passed between
Cabinet Minister and Head Master upon that eventful day which sent
Caesar to curse and swear upon the Sudbury road. The Head Master was
not an Harrovian, and on that account was the better able to perceive
time-honoured abuses. At Harrow the dominant chord among masters and
boys is a harmony of strenuousness and sentiment. Inevitably, the
senti