oon outweighed
by the consideration that another barrier had been broken down and that
now he could join in conversation, if need be, without that gnawing
fear of being shown up. Caruth had the decency not to betray Martin's
ignorance to the other new boys.

Martin was in Berney's house. Berney's had a reputation for
mediocrity--that is to say, it rarely won many challenge cups, and
those which it did hold were gained more often by individuals than by
teams. Berney's usually had some brilliant athletes, but it never
succeeded in training good sides. Occasionally at the bidding of a
conscientious prefect it made an effort; but its efforts were nearly
always in vain. Berney's had a lofty contempt for pot-hunting, which
the other houses of course attributed to jealousy. When Martin came to
Berney's the house was in its usual state: two of the prefects,
Jamieson and Parker, were very clever men but indifferent athletes: the
other two, Moore and Leopard, were brilliant athletes and not at all
clever. The house as a whole was listless and apathetic, and there was
a healthy spirit of tolerance resulting in the formation of groups.
There was a doggish group, which discussed socks and hair oil and other
more exciting things, a young athletic group, a group of 'sweat-guts,'
and a group of complete nullities. The new boys remained in a bunch
until half-term and then began to drift to their appropriate circles.
Martin, reasoning from certain conversations at his private school, had
been afraid that the new boys might have a rough time. Nothing of the
sort occurred. They were left very much alone and, as long as they put
on no side, received quite reasonable treatment. In all his career at
Elfrey Martin never saw a fight or a case of bullying: at times there
would be a little playful ragging, and insolence usually met with its
reward, but there was no systematic oppression. Above all, the
'sweat-guts,' though they might be laughed at now and then, were never
persecuted.

At the end of this second week Martin received two invitations to
supper. One was from Mrs Berney, the other from Mrs Foskett, the
headmaster's wife. Mrs Berney's hospitality came first. Instead of
going in to house tea and eating bread and butter and whatever else he
chose to provide for himself, he went to the front part of the house
with a clean collar (Eton by now) and hair 'sloshed' down with copious
water. There he met Caruth and two others,