ew boy took a gulp of water, which he calculated would be gratis
under any circumstances, and then gasped--"I say, I didn't know that."

D'Arcy looked solemn. "Jolly awkward," said he; "what have you had?"

Whereupon Master Ashby, the new boy, entered on a detailed confession,
which D'Arcy, evidently an expert at mental arithmetic, "totted up" as
he went along.

"How many times pudding did you say?" he asked towards the end, "Twice
and a bit."

"Three and ten; I dare say he won't be stiff about the bit, three and
ten; and that roll and butter--"

"I've not eaten them."

"No, but you've touched them. You'll be charged, unless you can get a
fellow to take them off your hands."

"Will _you_ have them?" asked Ashby.

Whereupon there was a laugh at _D'Arcy's_ expense, which annoyed that
young gentleman.

"I don't want your second-hand grub. You'd better take it round and see
what you can get for it."

Ashby looked at the bread, and then glanced round the table.

"No," said he, "I'll have it and pay for it, if it comes to that."

"That'll be four bob."

Ashby gave a gulp of despair.

"I've not got so much."

"Then you'll get in a jolly row."

"Could you lend me one and six, I say?" asked the new boy.

Again D'Arcy got the worst of the laugh.

"Didn't you hear me say I'd only just got enough to pay for my own? But
I tell you what; you can hide under the table. You're not known."

Ashby looked round, and felt about with his foot under the table to
ascertain what room there might be there. Then he flushed up. "No, I
shan't," said he; "I'd get into the row instead."

As his eye travelled round and marked the curious smile on every face it
suddenly dawned upon him that he had been "done." His first sensation
was one of immense relief. He should not have to pay for his dinner
after all! His second was a cunning device for getting out of the
dilemma.

"I thought you'd begin to laugh soon," said he to D'Arcy. "I knew you
couldn't keep it up."

D'Arcy turned very red in the face and glared at this audacious
youngster in deserved wrath.

"What do you mean, you young ass? You know you've swallowed it all."

"He swallowed all the grub anyhow," said another.

"No, I've not," said Master Ashby. "I'd have another go-in now. I knew
he'd have to laugh in the end."

It was hopeless to deal seriously with a rebel of this sort. D'Arcy
tried to ride off on the high horse; but it was not a very gran