ellow," said he; "'taint improving for little
whippersnappers like you to be indulging in blasphemy; so you stop that,
or you'll get something you won't like."

"I'll have you both licked when I get out, that I will," rejoined the
boy, beginning to snivel.

"Two can play at that game, mind you," said Tom, who had finished his
examination of the list. "Now you just listen here. We've just come
across the fives'-court, and Jones has four fags there already, two more
than he wants. If he'd wanted us to change, he'd have stopped us
himself. And here, you little blackguard, you've got seven names down
on your list besides ours, and five of them School-house." Tom walked up
to him and jerked him on to his legs; he was by this time whining like a
whipped puppy.

"Now just listen to me. We ain't going to fag for Jones. If you tell him
you've sent us, we'll each of us give you such a thrashing as you'll
remember." And Tom tore up the list and threw the pieces into the fire.

"And mind you too," said East, "don't let me catch you again sneaking
about the School-house, and picking up our fags. You haven't got the
sort of hide to take a sound licking kindly;" and he opened the door and
sent the young gentleman flying into the quadrangle, with a parting
kick.

"Nice boy, Tommy," said East, shoving his hands in his pockets and
strolling to the fire.

"Worst sort we breed," responded Tom, following his example. "Thank
goodness, no big fellow ever took to petting me."

"You'd never have been like that," said East. "I should like to have put
him in a museum:--Christian young gentleman, nineteenth century, highly
educated. Stir him up with a long pole, Jack, and hear him swear like a
drunken sailor!--He'd make a respectable public open its eyes, I think."

"Think he'll tell Jones?" said Tom.

"No," said East. "Don't care if he does."

"Nor I," said Tom. And they went back to talk about Arthur.

The young gentleman had brains enough not to tell Jones, reasoning that
East and Brown, who were noted as some of the toughest fags in the
school, wouldn't care three straws for any licking Jones might give
them, and would be likely to keep their words as to passing it on with
interest.

After the above conversation, East came a good deal to their study, and
took notice of Arthur; and soon allowed to Tom that he was a thorough
little gentleman, and would get over his shyness all in good time; which
much comforted our hero. He felt e