f wish to run off, and buy you a new lace----"

"Of all the rum starts I----"

"Afterwards," John continued, "I tried to suck-up. I asked you to come
and have some 'food.' Do you remember?"

"I'll bet I came, Jonathan."

"No; you didn't. You said 'No.'"

"Dash it all! I certainly said, 'No, thanks.'"

"I dare say; but the 'No' hurt awfully because I did feel that it was
cheek asking you."

"Jonathan, you funny old buster, I'll never say 'No' again. 'Pon my
word, I won't. So I said 'No.' That's odd, because it's not easy for
me to say 'No.' The governor pointed that out last hols. Somehow, I
can't say 'No,' particularly if there's any excitement in saying 'Yes.'
And my beastly 'No' hurt, did it? Well, I'm very, _very_ sorry."

He held out his hand, which John took. Then, for a moment, there was a
pause before Desmond continued awkwardly--

"You know, Jonathan, that the Demon is my pal. You like him better
than you did, don't you?"

John had the tact not to speak; but he shook his head dolefully.

"And I couldn't chuck him, even if I wanted to, which I don't--which I
don't," he repeated, with an air of satisfying himself rather than
John. And John divined that Scaife's hold upon Desmond's affections
was not so strong as he had deemed it to be. Desmond continued. "But
I want you, too, old Jonathan, and if--if----"

"All right," said John, nobly. He perceived that Desmond's loyalty to
Scaife made him hesitate and flush. "I understand, Caesar, and if I
can't be first, let me be second; only, remember, with me you're first,
rain or shine."

Desmond looked uneasy. "Isn't that a case of 'heads I win, tails you
lose'?"

John considered; then he smiled cheerfully, "You know you are a winner,
Caesar. You're cut out for a winner; you can win whatever you want to
win."

"Oh, that's all rot," said Desmond. He looked very grave, and in his
eyes lay shadows which John had never seen before.

And so ended John's first year at Harrow.

[1] All Public Houses are out of bounds.

CHAPTER VII

REFORM

"'It must be a gran' thing to be a colledge profissor.'
"'Not much to do,' said Mr. Hennessy.
"'But a gr--reat deal to say,' said Mr. Dooley."

When John returned to the Hill at the beginning of the winter term the
great change had taken place. Rutford had assumed the duties of
Professor of Greek at a Scotch University; Warde was in possession of
the Manor; Scaife and Desmond a