f the Sixth; and Fisher minor had consequently
buttoned up too. But his new friend, who was pronounced in all his ways
and evidently an authority on etiquette, wore his open. Fisher minor
therefore furtively slipped his fingers down and opened his coat.

"You're a new kid, I suppose," said he of the red necktie.

"Yes, I'm Fisher minor."

"What, son of Fisher the boat-builder? I didn't know he had one so
old."

"No, oh no. That's my brother up there, talking to the Dux."

"The who? I don't see any ducks."

"I mean Yorke, you know, the captain."

"Why ever do you call him ducks? You'd better let him catch you calling
him names like that. Oh, you're a brother of old Fisher? You look it."

Fisher minor was alarmed at the tone in which this observation was made.
It seemed to imply that Fisher major was not quite all that could be
desired, and yet the younger brother did not exactly know what it was in
the elder which called for repudiation. However, he was spared the pain
of deciding by a new voice on his other side.

"What's that, Wally? Does this kid say he belongs to Fisher? Oh, my
stars, what form we're coming to!"

Fisher minor glanced round, and experienced a shock as he did so.

For the new speaker was so like the last that he was tempted to suppose
the latter had suddenly changed seats and contrived to substitute a blue
necktie for a red, and button his jacket during the feat. But when he
looked back, the owner of the red tie was still in his place. After
considerable wagging of his head, he was forced to admit that he was
seated between two different persons.

"Why, he can't help that," said the gentleman addressed as Wally.

Fisher minor laughed feebly, and really wished his brother would pay a
little more attention to the "form."

"Of course," said Wally, talking across to his twin brother, "fellows
can't tell what asses they look until they're told. Don't you remember
the chap last term who always wore his trousers turned up, till the
prefects made him turn them down or go on the Modern side."

"Catch us taking any of your cast-off louts on our side," retorted the
other brother, who evidently belonged to the slighted side; "yes--
shocking bad form it was--and when he turned them down at last, they
found seventy-four nibs, fifty matches, and nobody knows how many
candle-ends."

All this time Fisher minor, with panic at his heart, was furiously
trying to turn down his trouser-ends