all my care, the very solecism I
had planned so carefully to avoid had tripped me up at last.

"Take them off at once, sir, and let me have no more of this
foolishness. You are making a bad start. Were you not the boy I had to
speak to in the hall this afternoon?"

"Yes, sir. I am sorry I kicked your shins. I hope I didn't hurt much.
I thought you were one of the boys."

I am sure I meant no harm by it, but he seemed to regard this as a
studied insult, and visited me with his wrath not only for it but for
the smiles from the boys behind which accompanied it.

"What is this boy's name?" he inquired severely, looking round.

I wondered who would answer the question; it was evidently not intended
for me. It astonished me that Mr Sharpe should not apply at
headquarters; I am sure I could have told him. "I think," said a voice
which I recognised as Tempest's, "his name is Jones, sir."

Think! Surely Tempest might have had a little more confidence than
that.

"Perhaps you will see what you can make of him presently, Tempest. If
he has any intelligence at all," (nice, wasn't it, for an exhibitioner?)
"you may be able to make him understand some of the rules of the place.
If not, I am afraid we shall have to put him down as a silly little boy,
and bear with him accordingly. Go to your seat now, sir, and report
yourself to Tempest after register."

It was not a very dignified end to the interview. Still, I felt myself
lucky to be handed over to the tender mercies of my old comrade, and
retired to my place a puzzled but not an amused boy.

What perplexed me most was to notice that Brown and the other new boys
who had no gloves at all, and did nothing but answer the questions put
to them in the plainest possible way, not only passed muster, but
received words of approval and encouragement from the master such as I
would have given a great deal to have got myself. But such is life.
The fellows who take the most pains and deserve most, get least; and the
fellows who have least to boast of receive more than they expect.

I was glad when register was over and the time came for me to have an
explanation with Tempest.

"Look here," said the candid youth next to me, "you'd better sit up when
you go to Tempest, I can let you know. He's cock of our house this
term, and he's not over-tender with idiots, I can let you know."

"What, has he been down on you?" I inquired meekly.

The only reply I got was a touch on