l racquets,
"Footer," "Ducker," etc.

[3] The Duke of Dorset was Byron's fag. _Cf._--

"Though the harsh custom of our youthful band
Bade thee obey, and gave me to command."
_Hours of Idleness._

CHAPTER II

_Caesar_

"You come here where your brothers came,
To the old school years ago,
A young new face, and a Harrow name,
'Mid a crowd of strangers? No!
You may not fancy yourself alone,
You who are memory's heir,
When even the names in the graven stone
Will greet you with 'Who goes there--
You?--
Pass, Friend--All's well.'"

John never forgot that memorable morning when he learned for the first
time what place he had taken in the school. He sat with the other
new-comers, staring, open-eyed, at nearly six hundred boys, big and
small, assembled together in the Speech-room. So engrossed was he that
he scarcely heard the Head Master's opening prayers. John was obsessed,
inebriated, with the number of Harrovians, each of whom had once felt
strange and shy like himself. From his place close to the great organ,
he could look up and up, seeing row after row of faces, knowing that
amongst them sat his future friends and foes.

Suddenly, a neighbour nudged him. The Head Master was reading from a
list in his hand the school-removes, and the names and places taken by
new boys. He began at the lowest form with the name of a small urchin
sitting near John. The urchin blinked and blushed as he realized that he
was "lag of the school." John knew that he had answered fairly well the
questions set by the examiners; he had no fear of finding himself
pilloried in the Third Fourth; still, as form after form did not include
his name, he grew restless and excited. Had he taken a higher place
than the Middle Shell? Yes; no Verney in the Middle Shell. The Head
Master began the removes of the top Shell. Now, now it must be coming.
No; the clear, penetrating tones slowly articulated name after name, but
not his.

"Verney."

At last. Many eyes were staring at him, some enviously, a few
superciliously. John had taken the Lower Remove, the highest form but
one open to new boys. He was sipping the wine called Success.

Moreover, Desmond of the frank, laughing face and sparkling blue eyes,
and Scaife and Egerton were also in the Lower Remove.

After this, John sat in a blissful dream, hardly conscious of his
surroundings, s