,[6] but I want to see you playing as hard as ever you can in
the house-games. You'll be knocked about a bit; but a Verney won't mind
that--eh?"

"Rather not," said John, feeling very valiant.

Thirdly, there was the first Sunday, and the first sermon of the Head
Master, with its plain teaching about the opportunities and perils of
Public School life. John found himself mightily affected by the singing,
and the absence of shrill treble voices. The booming basses and
baritones of the big fellows made him shiver with a curious bitter-sweet
sensation never experienced before.

Lastly, the pleasant discovery that his Form treated him with courtesy
and kindness. Desmond, in particular, welcomed him quite warmly. And
then and there John's heart was filled with a wild and unreasonable
yearning for this boy's friendship. But Desmond--he was called "Caesar,"
because his Christian names were Henry Julius--seemed to be very
popular, a bright particular star, far beyond John's reach although for
ever in his sight. Caesar never offered to walk with him: and he refused
John's timid invitation to have food at the "Tudor Creameries."[7] Was
it possible that a boy about to enter Damer's would not be seen walking
and talking with a fellow out of Dirty Dick's? This possibility
festered, till one morning John saw his idol walking up and down the
School Yard with Scaife. That evening he said to Scaife--

"Do you like Desmond?"

"Yes," Scaife replied decisively. "I like him better than any fellow at
Harrow. You know that his father is Charles Desmond--the Cabinet
Minister and a Governor of the school?"

"I didn't know it. I suppose Caesar Desmond likes you--_awfully_."

"Do you? I doubt it."

No more was said. John told himself that Caesar--he liked to think of
Desmond as Caesar--could pick and choose a pal out of at least three
hundred boys, half the school. How extremely unlikely that he, John,
would be chosen! But every night he lay awake for half an hour longer
than he ought to have done, wondering how, by hook or crook, he could do
a service to Caesar which must challenge interest and provoke,
ultimately, friendship.

Meantime, he was slowly initiated by the Caterpillar into Harrow ways
and customs. Fagging, which began after the first fortnight, he found a
not unpleasant duty. After first and fourth schools the other fags and
he would stand not far from the pantry, and yell out "Breakfast," or
"Tea," as it might be, "for Num