Brothers

a certain sanctity, because they are strewn with precious dust, the pulverem Olympicum, so pungent to the nostrils of a combatant. To him, for instance, the ancient Fourth Form Room at Ha

s in the First Shell, the highest form but one open to new boys. Archibald Samphire, their sen

age, with instructions to sit still and not "swagger." Archie joined some swells on the platform. One of these Olympians lighted a cigar, whi

eel, Mark?" w

f-f-feel," said Mark, "you wo

osterous profit; who prepared the rods, who was present when those rods fell hurtling upon the bare flesh-Sam of the fair, round belly, Sam of the ripe, ruby-coloured nose, who has led bishops, statesmen, field-marshals, peers and baronets, members of Parliament, members of the Bar, members of the Stock Exchange-to the BLOCK!

d taken in the school. Long and narrow, with a door at one end and a window at the other, this room contained two battered fold-up bedsteads, two washhand-stands, two bureaux, a shabby carpet, a table, a fireplace, and three Windsor chairs. Here the boys were expected to work, to sleep, and to eat breakfast and tea. No room

o play cricket with a straight bat; he lay upon the green slopes of the Sixth Form Ground and ate ices; he spent his exeat at Randolph House in Belgrave Square, and witnessed at "Lord's" the defeat of the E

is rounds. And if he had reason to suspect a boy of conduct unbecoming an Harrovian, he would send for him and speak to him quietly, or perhaps, if the offender was a good fellow, ask him to breakfast or dinner, heaping food upon his plate and c

en superannuated, and not without cause. Archie and the Lubber practised what they called the "co-operative system of work." They would come to Mark's room and sit upon the sofa with a large gallipot of strawberry-ice between them. Then Mark and Jim were instructed to "mug up" forty lines of Euripides. This took time, and meanwhile the ice was consumed and anything else in the form of light refreshment which might be offered. When Mark was ready to construe, Archie and the Lubber produced a couple of batter

was transla

htly over a round, well-proportioned head, the clear, ruddy skin which from the days of David has always commanded admiration, and a tenor voice of peculiarly fine quality. Mark was his humble and adoring slave. Now, it chanced that in a shop half-way down Harrow Hill two young women possessed of bright complexions and waspish waists served hot chocolate and buttered toast to boys coming up from the playing fields, and in particular to certain boys of Billy's. Behind the shop was a back ro

traw hat only worn by mem

s," said Mark; "one b-b-

girls were known as Bubble and Squeak. One

chocolate and buttered to

e do?" said

e or Squeak?

beasts. Old Archie has a lock of hair. They've

from the same old

d Mark. "I hate marmalade

y of Iambics deserved some of the remarks which the form-master made upon them. During the next fortnight this negligenc

He's playing the d

altruist. "What's the good of

an," said Mark. "

ave a

d-don't know w-wha

anything ti

I give Bi

e word "honour," such a violation of an unwritten c

do. If m-mother were alive I'd write to her. But if I told father, he would come bello

chie is big enough to

ts out of the pantry window. I daresay he's squared one of the Tobies" (Toby was the gen

ly old ass!

sks-for what? To kiss a gir

n artful dodger. She thinks he'll marry her. All righ

go a

won

wil

N

yes;

Jim had been swished by the Doctor in the Fourth Form Room, and his sensat

id Billy. "Ope

Thucydides u

tacles while he was speaking. Now, he polished a pair of pin

t-tell you, s-sir, s-s-somet

playing one of Strauss's waltzes: Wein, Weib und Gesang. Whenever Jim heard this waltz he could conjure up a vision of that square, cosy, book-line

ng in the hous

s,

quill pen, and

step for you boys to t

s,

ntous. Perhaps he feared

you have to say implicates-er-others, if others may-er-have to-er-suffer, perhaps severely," he nodded so emphatically t

" said Ma

esitation

tly. "Speak plainly,

after lock-up. For the rest, he spoke with a conciseness and practical common se

with me. I shall pull a string or two, and our-er-marionettes, m

hie?" ga

your shoulders, my boy"; he tapped Mark's cheek. "And now open old Thicksides. Eh, what? you know your lesson? Then let's hear it." Ji

's sagacity in keeping Mark to construe Thucydides. "What a time you fellows have been! I suppose Billy

picion wa

e-master. What passed was not revealed at the time, but, later, Archie gave Mark some details, which are set

ed like a gentleman. Made me blubber like a baby. I give you my word I never felt quite so cheap. It wasn't what he said, but what he left unsaid. And I promised him that I would have nothing more to do

pantry window," sa

knew that too? Well, well, it mi

rst Fifth, Paradise Regained, singing p?ans of praise and thanksgiving. This was at the beginning of Mark's third summer half, the half when Archie made a great score at Lord's, car

e cricket-cap, given to m