I should have preferred that they had not asked me the question, but having asked it I felt bound to answer.
"No; I"m going to tea at a fellow"s."
"Who? The washerwoman"s?"
"No; to Redwood"s."
I tried to p.r.o.nounce the name with the unconcern of a man who is in daily communion with heroes, but I fear I betrayed my emotion. At least, their laughter made me think so.
I was instantly greeted with all sorts of mock salutations and obeisances, and, whether I liked it or not, rushed off to the f.a.ggery to be tidied up. It was in vain I struggled, and explained that Redwood was waiting for me. They would not be put off.
"You must wash your face for the credit of the Ph.C.C," said Langrish.
"And put on a clean shirt for the credit of your wash--"
Here by a frantic effort I broke loose and made off, followed by the pack in full cry, with shouts of--
"Stop thief!"
"Welsher?"
"Clear the course!" "Hurry up for tea there!" and other exclamations of a similar nature.
It was not certainly a very dignified way of accepting a friend"s invitation; still, it would have been worse had I remained in their clutches.
As it was, I only just made the schoolhouse door before Warminster and c.o.xhead were up to me, and presented myself to my host painfully out of breath and red in the face.
"Been having a trot over?" said he, with a nod.
"Yes, a little," I gasped.
"I"m ready; come along."
My heart sunk within me, as, on reaching the door, I saw my five comrades, all apparently by accident, hovering round to see me go out.
They did their best, and very successfully too, to stare me out of countenance, and encourage my blushes by allusions to "Sarah" and my tin sleeve-links, and the smudges on my face, and by cries of "shrimps" and "m.u.f.fins," and other awkward allusions.
Redwood, as became the c.o.c.k of the school, affected not to hear their ribald remarks, though he must have caught a word or two, and inquired,--
"Been playing football since you came?"
"No, not yet," said I, painfully aware that Trimble and Langrish were walking behind us critically; "that is, yes, a little."
I was glad when we reached the big gates, and were able to shake off the enemy, who continued audible comments till I was out of earshot, and finally went off on some new quest.
At Number 3, Bridge Street, I found myself, much to my discomfort, quite a hero. Mrs Redwood, a gentle-looking lady, kissed me effusively, so did little Miss Gwen, who having once begun could scarcely be prevailed upon to leave off. The servants smiled approvingly, as did a lady visitor, who shook me by the hand. The only person who did not appear to rejoice to see me was the heroine of the occasion, Miss Mamie, who declined altogether to kiss me, and added I was a naughty big boy to spoil her nice sash, and ought to be sent to bed.
To her mother"s protests and brother"s encouragement she was quite obdurate. No; she hated me, she said, for spoiling her nice sash, and wild horses would not draw from her a contrary declaration.
After which we were summoned to tea, and I was consoled for this base ingrat.i.tude by plum jam and "sally-lunn" and sultana cake and other delicacies, which only a schoolboy, well on in the term, knows how fully to appreciate.
The talk was limited; first because I made it a rule not to talk with my mouth full, and secondly, because, had that difficulty been removed, I had nothing to say. Redwood, fine fellow that he was, did not try to pump me, and the ladies, who kept up most of the talk, most conveniently worded their observations in such a form as not to call for a reply.
After tea, however, I did find myself talking to Mrs Redwood about my mother, and presently to Redwood about Dangerfield and my previous acquaintance with Tempest and Brown.
"Brown iii. is a town-boy," said the captain. "I wish we"d had him in.
Is he a member of your wonderful club, by the way?"
I blushed. Of course Redwood had seen that fatal doc.u.ment yesterday!
"Ah--well, you know, that is only for chaps in the school."
"Rather rough on us town-boys," said Redwood, with a laugh.
"I"m sure they"d be delighted to have you," said I.
"Ah, well, our fellows have a club of their own," said he, "although they don"t talk philosophy. By the way, is your Christian name correctly printed?" asked he.
"Oh, no," said I; "that was Languish"s fault. He says it was a printer"s error, but I"m sure he did it on purpose."
"It helps to call attention to the club," said the captain, laughing.
"Your lot seems to be fond of its little joke, to judge by the specimens that came to see us off just now."
"I"m awfully sorry," said I; "they do fool about so--I say, I hope you aren"t in a wax about it."
He certainly did not look it.
I went up with him to his den, and we had quite a long talk, and somehow without seeming to mean it, he managed to knock a great deal of nonsense out of my head, and incite me to put my back into the work of the term.
"I suppose," said he, "you mean to back up Tempest now he"s c.o.c.k of Sharpe"s? You kids can make it pretty hot in a house if you choose."
"Oh, we"re all backing up Tempest," said I, "especially now he"s got his colours."
"All serene," said the captain; "he"ll pull through well, then."
I stayed till it was time for Redwood to go over to the school for a committee of the Sports Club. I did not leave Number 3 without a standing invitation to come in whenever I liked, or without painful apologies for the contumacy of Mamie.
Redwood and I had just reached the bridge when some one confronted us whom I recognised at once as Mr Jarman.
"Ah, Redwood, you"ve a meeting on. Who"s this boy? Ah, I remember-- Jones iv. What did I say to you yesterday, Jones?"
"Jones has been to tea at my house," said the captain, with a flush, and looking less amiable than I had yet seen him.
"It"s after hours," said Mr Jarman, coolly. "I cautioned him yesterday. A hundred lines, Jones iv., by to-morrow evening."
"It"s not his fault," said Redwood; "I gave him leave, sir."
"We need not discuss this, Redwood," said Mr Jarman, and walked away.