Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 22, 2025
Now, as it happened, the door with the kicks on it was itself the eighth door on the right, with a study on either side of it, and which of these two was Loman's Stephen could not by the unaided light of nature determine. He peeped into Number 7; it was empty. "Perhaps he's cut his name on the door," thought Stephen.
By the time Loman's wants had been attended to, and his directions for future fagging delivered, the prayer-bell rang, and for the half-hour following prayers the new boy was hauled away by Master Paul into the land of the Guinea-pigs, there to make the acquaintance of some of his future class-fellows, and to take part in a monster indignation meeting against the monitors for forbidding single wicket cricket in the passage, with a door for the wicket, an old inkpot for the ball, and a ruler for the bat.
He had been in constant terror of seeing Cripps every time he ventured outside his house; and he had been in still more terror of Cripps calling up at Saint Dominic's and telling the Doctor all about him directly after the holidays. For now Loman's time was up.
On the evening after the examination he received a note from Cripps brought up in a most barefaced way by one of the potboys at the Cockchafer requesting the pleasure of Mr Loman's company at that pleasant spot immediately, to talk over business! "Why didn't he send it by post?" demanded Loman, angrily, of the disreputable messenger. "Don't you know if you were seen up here there'd be a row?"
This letter was startling enough to drive fifty Dominicans out of Loman's head, and for a long time he could hardly realise how bad the news it contained was. He had reckoned to a dead certainty on winning the bet which Cripps had advised him to make with his friend.
"When you come and fag for me I'll give you a few lessons to begin with." "Oh! by the way, Wray," said Oliver, "that's all knocked on the head. Loman makes out the captain promised him the first new boy that came. I'm awfully sorry." "Just like Loman's cheek. I believe he did it on purpose to spite me or you. I say, Greenfield, I'd kick-up a row about it if I were you."
"Yes," chimed in another knowing one, "Loman's got such a wretched knack of keeping up his left elbow, that he's not a chance. A child could get in under his guard, I tell you; and as for wind, he's no more wind than an old paper bag!" "I wish myself it was a closer thing, as long as our man won," said Tom Senior, with a tinge of melancholy in his voice.
I called him a coward, and that wouldn't make him. You'll have to give it up this time, Noll." But Oliver wouldn't hear of giving it up so easily. He got up and rushed to Loman's study himself. But it was locked. He knocked, no one answered. He called through the keyhole, but there was no reply. Evidently Loman did not intend to fight, and Oliver returned crestfallen and disappointed to his study.
"What's the use, if the captain says so?" answered Oliver. "Besides, Loman's a monitor, bad luck to him!" "Loman's a fellow I don't take a great fancy to," said Wraysford. "I wouldn't care for a young brother of mine to fag to him." "You are prejudiced, old man," said Oliver. "But I wish all the same Stephen was to fag for you. It's a pity, but it can't be helped."
The Fifth had "cheeked" the Sixth, and the Sixth had snubbed the Fifth; but with the exception of Loman's assault on Oliver, which had not led to a fight, the war had been strictly one of words. Now, however, the opposing forces were to be ranged face to face at cricket; and to the junior school the opportunity seemed a grand one for a display of partisanship one side or the other.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking