ton," Skinner said angrily.

"Well, I wonder myself sometimes," Easton said placidly. "I suppose it
is a relic of our original savage nature, when men did not mind dirt,
and lived by hunting and fighting and that sort of thing."

"And had never learned the nuisance of stiff shirts and collars, and
never heard of such a thing as a tailor, and did not part their hair in
the middle, Easton, and had never used soap," Skinner broke in.

"No; it must have been beastly," Easton said gravely. "I am very glad
that I did not live in those days."

"Ah, you would have suffered horribly if you had, wouldn't you?"

"Well, I don't know, Skinner; I suppose I should have done as other
people did. If one does not know the comfort of a wash and a clean
shirt, one would not miss it, you see. I have sometimes thought--"

"Oh, never mind what you thought," Skinner broke in out of all patience.
"Come, let us go for a walk; it is no use stopping here all this fine
afternoon. Let us take a good long spin. I can see half you fellows are
out of condition altogether, and the sooner we begin work the better.
Will you come, Easton? After lolling about looking at pictures a
twelve-mile spin will do you good."

"Thank you, Skinner; I don't know that I want any good done to me. I
should not mind a walk, if it is to be a walk; but a walk with you
generally means rushing across ploughed fields and jumping into ditches,
and getting one's self hot and uncomfortable, and splashing one's self
from head to foot. It is bad enough in flannels, but it is downright
misery in one's ordinary clothes. But I don't mind a game at rackets, if
anyone is disposed for it."

"I will play you," Mossop said. "I want to get my hand in before the
racket matches come off."

So they went and put on their flannels and racket shoes, while the rest
of the party started for a long walk with Skinner.

"I am glad he has not come," the football captain said as they started;
"he drives me out of all patience."

"I don't think you have much to drive out of you, Skinner," Rupert
Clinton laughed. "I believe Easton puts about half of it on, on purpose
to excite you. I am sure just now I saw a little amusement in his face
when he was talking so gravely."

"He will find he has got in the wrong box," Skinner said angrily, "if he
tries to chaff me."

A quiet smile was exchanged among the others, for Easton was tall and
well built and had the reputation of being the best boxer in