nes.

"Well, I'm sure you would have enjoyed the wonderful humor of it twice
as much if you had taken more pains with your scholarship."

"Well, sir, I don't believe any boy in the form enjoyed the
set-tos[26] between Cleon and the sausage-seller more than I did--eh,
Arthur?" said Tom, giving him a stir with his foot.

[26] #Set-tos#: fights or encounters of any kind.

"Yes, I must say he did," said Arthur. "I think, sir, you've hit upon
the wrong book there."

"Not a bit of it," said the master. "Why, in those very passages of
arms, how can you thoroughly appreciate them unless you are masters of
the weapons? and the weapons are the language, which you, Brown, have
never half worked at; and so, as I say, you must have lost all the
delicate shades of meaning which make the best part of the fun."

"Oh! well played--bravo, Johnson!" shouted Arthur, dropping his hat
and clapping furiously, and Tom joined in with a "Bravo, Johnson!"
which might have been heard at the chapel.

"Eh! what is it? I didn't see," inquired the master; "they only got
one run, I thought?"

"No, but such a ball, three-quarters length, and coming straight for
his leg-bail.[27] Nothing but that turn of the wrist could have saved
him, and he drew it away to leg[28] for a safe one. Bravo, Johnson!"

[27] #Leg-bail#: part of the wicket.

[28] #To leg#: to the left and rear.

"How well they are bowling, though," said Arthur; "they don't mean to
be beat, I can see."

"There, now," struck in the master "you see that's just what I have
been preaching this half-hour. The delicate play is the true thing. I
don't understand cricket, so I don't enjoy those fine draws[29] which
you tell me are the best play, though when you or Raggles hit a ball
hard away for six,[30] I am as delighted as any one. Don't you see the
analogy?"

[29] #Draws#: good play by the batsman.

[30] #Hard away for six#: to the best advantage.

"Yes, sir," answered Tom, looking up roguishly, "I see; only the
question remains whether I should have got most good by understanding
Greek particles or cricket thoroughly. I'm such a thick, I never
should have had time for both."

"I see you are an incorrigible," said the master, with a chuckle; "but
I refute you by an example. Arthur there has taken in Greek and
cricket, too."

"Yes, but no thanks to him; Greek came natural to him. Why, when he
first came I remember he used to read Herodotus[31] for pleasure,