r the ladies are more tolerant of twaddle, or their discerning
eyes see in the gawky youth the germ of future usefulness. George was on
capital terms with himself. He was the oracle of Mr. Latherington's school,
where he was not only head boy and head swell, but a considerable authority
on sporting matters. He took in _Bell's Life_, which he read from beginning
to end, and 'noted its contents,' as they say in the city.

'I'll tell you what all these little (hiccup) animals will be wanting,'
observed Sir Harry, as he cayenne-peppered a turkey's leg; 'they'll be come
for a (hiccup) hunt.'

'Wish they may get it,' observed Captain Seedeybuck; adding, 'why, the
ground's as hard as iron.'

'There's a big boy,' observed Miss Howard, eyeing George Cheek through the
window.

'Let's have him in, and see what he's got to say for himself,' said Miss
Glitters.

'_You_ ask him, then,' rejoined Miss Howard, who didn't care to risk
another rub.

'Peter,' said Lady Scattercash to the footman, who had been loitering
about, listening to the conversation,--'Peter, go and ask that tall boy
with the blue neckerchief and the riband round his hat to come in.'

'Yes, my lady,' replied Peter.

'And the (hiccup) Spooneys, and the (hiccup) Bulgeys, and the (hiccup)
Raws, and all the little (hiccup) rascals,' added Sir Harry.

'The Raws won't come. Sir H.,' observed Miss Howard soberly.

'Bigger fools they,' replied Sir Harry.

Presently Peter returned with a tail, headed by George Cheek, who came
striding and slouching up the room, and stuck himself down on Lady
Scattercash's right. The small boys squeezed themselves in as they could,
one by Captain Seedeybuck, another by Captain Bouncey, one by Miss
Glitters, a fourth by Miss Howard, and so on. They all fell ravenously upon
the provisions.

Gobble, gobble, gobble was the order of the day.

'Well, and how often have you been flogged this half?' asked Lady
Scattercash of George Cheek, as she gave him a cup of coffee.

Her ladyship hadn't much liking for youths of his age, and would just as
soon vex them as not.

'Well, and how often have you been flogged this half?' asked she again, not
getting an answer to her first inquiry.

'Not at all,' growled Cheek, reddening up.

'Oh, flogged!' exclaimed Miss Glitters. 'You wouldn't have a young man like
him flogged; it's only the little boys that get that--is it, Mister Cheek?'

'To be sure not,' assented the youth.

'Mister Cheek's