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Updated: July 7, 2025
Nor does he. The mistake for mistake there must be on one side or t'other is made by Damer's back. As the ball rolls halfway between them, the back hesitates and falters. One base to two and eighteen minutes to play! The second base was kicked by Scaife five minutes later. By this time the School knew that they were looking on at a cock-house match, not a semi-final.
Scaife fielded brilliantly, and John, watching him, said to himself that at such times the Demon was irresistible, Warde invited the Eleven to dinner, and spoke of nothing but football, much to every one's amusement. "He's right," said the Caterpillar; "we're not cock-house at cricket this year, but we may be at footer."
"As for Augustus Vernon Robert Todd" "ballon d'essai" "Kindergarten!" Oh! it was a sickener, and how the fellows had laughed! As for his bet with Cotton about cock-house, why, he had, when he saw those goals put on at the last moment, felt a cold shiver run down his back. He had crawled off the Acres a sick and sorry and miserable wretch.
The last Saturday of the summer term saw the Manor cock-house at cricket: almost a foregone conclusion, and therefore not particularly interesting to outsiders. During the morning Scaife gave his farewell "brekker" at the Creameries; a banquet of the Olympians to which John received an invitation. He accepted because Desmond made a point of his so doing; but he was quite aware that beneath the veneer of the Demon's genial smile lay implacable hatred and resentment. The breakfast in itself struck John as ostentatious. Scaife's father sent quails,
Then came the Torpid matches; and John, as Lawrence predicted, was captain of the cock-house Eleven the first great victory of the Manorites. During the term, Scaife and Desmond won no races, being in age betwixt and between winners of Upper and Lower School races. Scaife refused to train.
Meantime, the Torpid house-matches were coming on, and the School agreed, wonderingly, that Dirty Dick's had a chance of being cock-house. The fact that the Manor had lost caste brought about this possibility. Boys just under fifteen found room at the Manor when other houses were full.
This is between ourselves, a confidence. I came to the Manor from a beastly school, such schools are hardly to be found nowadays a hardened young sinner at thirteen. The Manor licked me into shape. Speaking generally, I suppose the tone of the house insensibly communicated itself to me. The Manor was cock-house at games and work. I began by shirking both.
"Never mind, Verney," he said cheerily; "the Manor will be cock-house at Torpids next year, and I venture to prophesy that you'll be Captain." "Ob, thanks, Lawrence," said John. But, much as he appreciated this tribute from the great man, and much as it served to mitigate the pangs of defeat, a yet happier stroke of fortune was about to befall him.
Now I'll be candid with you. I like Lovell. There's no nonsense about him. He don't put on frills because he's in the Sixth, and he don't mean to take to their sneaking, spying ways. He's just as anxious as Warde to see the Manor cock-house at footer and cricket, and I'm as keen as he is; but we stop there. The Balliol Scholarship may go hang.
"Biffen," said good old Corker, audibly, "your house is fortunate in having Acton, and St. Amory such a good amateur coach in classics. Cock-house, too, bless me!" And can you wonder that Biffen's, frenzied with delight, carried Raven and Acton shoulder high through the gas-lit streets?
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