areer at St. James' Preparatory School
passed in a dream-like confusion of thought and action. First of all he
waited anxiously in the Headmaster's study in an atmosphere of
morocco-leather and large waste-paper baskets. Like every other room in
which Michael had waited, whether of dentist or doctor, the outlook from
the window was gloomy and the prospect within was depressing. He was
glad when Mr. Randell led him and several other boys towards the First
Form, where in a dream, peopled by the swinging legs of many boys, he
learnt from a scarlet book that while Cornelia loved Julia, Julia
returned Cornelia's affection. When this fact was established in both
English and Latin, all the boys shuffled to their desks and the record
of a great affection was set down largely and painfully.

1. Cornelia Juliam amat.
2. Julia Corneliam amat.

Blotted and smudged and sprawling though it ultimately appeared, Michael
felt a great satisfaction in having dealt successfully with two
nominatives, two accusatives and a verb. The first part of the morning
passed away quickly in the history of this simple love. At eleven
o'clock a shrill electric bell throbbed through the school, and Michael,
almost before he knew what was happening, was carried in a torrent of
boys towards the playground. Michael had never felt supreme loneliness,
even at night, until he stood in the middle of that green prairie of
recreation, distinguishing nobody, a very small creature in a throng of
chattering giants. Some of these giants, who usually walked about arm in
arm, approached him.

"Hullo, are you a new kid?"

Michael breathed his 'yes.'

"What's your name?"

With an effort Michael remembered Rodber's warning and replied simply:

"Fane."

"What's your Christian name?"

This was a terribly direct attack, and Michael was wondering whether it
would be best to run quickly out of the playground, to keep silence or
to surrender the information, when the quick and authoritative voice of
Rodber flashed from behind him.

"Fish and find out, young Biden."

"Who are you calling young, young Rodber?"

"You," said Rodber. "So you'd jolly well better scoot off and leave this
kid alone."

"Church said I was to collar all the new kids for his army," Biden
explained.

"Did he? Well, this kid's in our army, so sucks! And you can tell young
Church that Pearson and me are going to jolly well lam him at four
o'clock," announced Rodber very fiercely.