a magnificent
oak-panelled room, where generations of men have cut their names; and
above the ledge on which repose the silver challenge cups the house has
won, is a large statue of King Edward VI looking down on the row of
tables. When he first entered the hall, Gordon pitied those in other
houses immensely. It seemed to him that though in "the outhouses"--as
they were called at Fernhurst--the eugenic machinery might be more up to
date, and the method of lighting and heating far more satisfactory, yet
it could not be the same there as in the School House; and he never
quite freed himself of the illusion that, if the truth were known, every
outhouse boy rather regretted that he had not chosen otherwise. For
indeed the bloods of other houses are very often found sitting over the
fire in the School House games study.

Until about six o'clock Gordon could not have been happier, his future
seemed so full of possibilities. But when his father and mother left him
to catch the afternoon train back to town, and the evening train brought
with it a swarm of boys in the most wonderful ties and socks, and all so
engrossed in their own affairs, and so indifferent to his, Gordon began
to feel very lonely. Supper was not till nine and he had three hours to
put in. Very disconsolately he wandered round the green slopes above the
town where was the town football ground and where in the summer term
those members of the Fifteen who despised cricket would enjoy their
quiet pipe and long for the rains of November. But that walk did not
take long, especially as he did not dare to go out of the sight of the
Abbey for fear of getting lost. When he returned to the House the court
was loud with shouts and laughter. Everyone had something to do. There
was the luggage to fetch from the day-room. The town porter, known
generally as Slimy Tim, was waiting to be tipped. Health certificates
had to be produced. There was a sporting chance of finding in Merriman's
second-hand bookshop--out of bounds during term-time--an English version
of Vergil and Xenophon. There were a hundred things to do for everyone
except Gordon. There were several other new boys, doubtless, to be found
among this unending stream of bowler hats. But he saw no way of
discovering them. He did, it is true, make one attempt. Very bravely he
walked up to a rather bored individual who was leaning against the door
that led into the studies and asked him if he was a new boy. His
receptio