FullReads

Mrs O. I. came out to say that tea was ready, and, being drawn into the conversation on the subject of the Rutton sports, produced a programme of the same, which her nevvy had sent them. From this it seemed that the nevvy’s ‘spot’ event was the egg and spoon race. An asterisk against his name pointed him out as the last year’s winner.

‘Hullo,’ said Charteris, ‘I see there’s a strangers’ mile. I’m a demon at the mile when I’m roused. I think I shall go in for it.’

He handed the programme back and began his tea.

‘You know, Babe,’ he said, as they were going back that evening, ‘I really think I shall go in for that race. It would be a most awful rag. It’s the day before the House-match, so it’ll just get me fit.’

‘Don’t be a fool,’ said the Babe. ‘There would be a fearful row about it if you were found out. You’d get extras for the rest of your life.’

‘Well, the final Houser comes off on a Thursday, so it won’t affect that.’

‘Yes, but still–‘

‘I shall think about it,’ said Charteris. ‘You needn’t go telling anyone.’

‘If you’ll take my advice, you’ll drop it.’

‘Your suggestion has been noted, and will receive due attention,’ said Charteris. ‘Put on the pace a bit.’

They lengthened their stride, and conversation came to an abrupt end.

Chapter 4

‘I shall go, Babe,’ said Charteris on the following night.

The Sixth Form had a slack day before them on the morrow, there being a temporary lull in the form-work which occurred about once a week, when there was no composition of any kind to be done. The Sixth did four compositions a week, two Greek and two Latin, and except for these did not bother themselves very much about overnight preparation. The Latin authors which the form were doing were Livy and Virgil, and when either of these were on the next day’s programme, most of the Sixth considered that they were justified in taking a night off. They relied on their ability to translate both authors at sight and without previous acquaintance. The popular notion that Virgil is hard rarely appeals to a member of a public school. There are two ways of translating Virgil, the conscientious and the other. He prefers the other.

On this particular night, therefore, work was ‘off’. Merevale was over at the Great Hall, taking preparation, and the Sixth-Form Merevalians had assembled in Charteris’s study to talk about things in general. It was after a pause of some moments, that had followed upon a lively discussion of the House’s prospects in the forthcoming final, that Charteris had spoken.

‘I shall go, Babe,’ said he.

‘Go where?’ asked Tony, from the depths of a deck-chair.

‘Babe knows.’

The Babe turned to the company and explained.

‘The lunatic’s going in for the strangers’ mile at some sports at Rutton next week. He’ll get booked for a cert. He can’t see that. I never saw such a man.’

‘Rally round,’ said Charteris, ‘and reason with me. I’ll listen. Tony, what do you think about it?’

Tony expressed his opinion tersely, and Charteris thanked him. Welch, who had been reading, now awoke to the fact that a discussion was in progress, and asked for details. The Babe explained once more, and Welch heartily corroborated Tony’s remarks. Charteris thanked him too.

‘You aren’t really going, are you?’ asked Welch.

‘Rather,’ said Charteris.

‘The Old Man won’t give you leave.’

‘Shan’t worry the poor man with such trifles.’

‘But it’s miles out of bounds. Stapleton station is out of bounds to start with. It’s against rules to go in a train, and Rutton’s even more out of bounds than Stapleton.’

‘And as there are sports there,’ said Tony, ‘the Old Man is certain to put Rutton specially out of bounds for that day. He always bars a St Austin’s chap going to a place when there’s anything going on there.’

‘I don’t care. What have I to do with the Old Man’s petty prejudices? Now, let me get at my time-table. Here we are. Now then.’