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Fenwick Major’s Little ‘un
by
[ Chirnside’s pipe goes out. Jo Bentley and Tad shift their legs uneasily and cross them the other way.
So we came up. Fenwick Major’s name stands next to mine on the University books. You know the style. Get your money all ready. Make out your papers–What is your place of birth? Have you had the small-pox? If so, how often and where? And shove the whole biling across the counter to the fellow with the red head and the uncertain temper. You’ve been there?
[ Bentley and Tad Anderson nod. They had been there.
Well, you fellows, Fenwick Major and I got through our first session together. We were lonely, of course, and we chummed some. First go off, we lodged together. But Fenwick had hordes of chips and I had only my bursary, and none too much of that. Fenwick wanted a first floor. I preferred the attic, and thought a sitting-room unnecessary. So we parted. Fenwick Major used to drop in after that, and show me his new suits and the latest thing in sticks–nobby things, with a silver band round them and his name. Then he got a terrier, and learned to be knowing as to bars. I envied, but luckily had no money. Besides, that’s all skittles any way, and you’ve to pay for it sweetly through the nose in the long-run. Now mind me, you fellows!
[ Bentley and Tad mind Chirnside.
Oh, certainly, I’ll get on with my apple-cart and tell you about the book.
Well, the short and the long of it is that Fenwick Major began to go to the dogs, the way you and I have seen a many go. Oh, it’s a gay road–room inside, and a penny all the way. But there’s always the devil to pay at the far end. I’m not preaching, fellows; only, you take my word for it and keep clear.
Yet, in spite of the dogs, there was no mistake but Fenwick Major could work. His father was a parson–white hair on his shoulders, venerable old boy, all that sort of thing. Had coached Fenwick till he was full as a sheep-tick. So he got two medals that session, and the fellows–his own set–gave him a supper–whisky-toddy, and we’ll not go home till morning–that style! But most of them wouldn’t even go home when it was morning. They went down to the Royal and tried to break in with sticks–young fools! The bobbies scooped them by couples and ran them in. They were all in court the next day. Most of the fellows gave their right enough names, but they agreed to lie about Fenwick’s for his father’s sake and his medals. Most of them were colonial medicals anyway. It didn’t matter a toss-up to them. So Fenwick went home all right with his two medals. His father met him at the station, proud as Punch. His mother took possession of the medals; and when she thought that Fenwick Major was out of the way, she took them all round the parish in her black reticule basket, velvet cases and all, and showed them to the goodwives.
Fenwick Minor was home from school, and went about like a dog worshipping his big brother. This is all about Fenwick Minor.
But Greenbrae parish and its humble, poor simpletons of folk did not content Fenwick Major long. He went back to Edinburgh, as he told his father, to read during the summer session; and when we came up again in November, Fenwick Major was going it harder than ever.
[ Jo Bentley and Tad Anderson look at each other. They know all about that.
CHIRNSIDE ( continues ). Then he gave up attending class much, only turning up for examinations. He had fits of grinding like fire at home. Again he would chuck the whole thing, and lounge all day and most of the night about shops in the shady lanes back of the Register. So we knew that Fenwick Major was burning his fingers. Then he cut classes and grinds altogether, and when I met him next, blest if he didn’t cut me. That wasn’t much, of course, and maybe showed his good taste. But it was only a year since we chummed–and I knew his people, you know.