United States or Samoa ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Scaife's handsome features were full of vitality also, but coarseness underlay their bold lines and peered out of the keen, flashing eyes. When the Caterpillar left Harrow he had said to John "Good-bye, Jonathan. Awful rot your going to such a hole as Oxford! One has had quite enough schooling after five years here. It's settled I'm going into the Guards.
Now, is it worth doing up? You see, I shall be in a two-room next term. If we all chip in " he paused. "I've brought back two quid," said John. Scaife's smile indicated neither approval nor the reverse. John's ingenuous confidence provoked none in return. "We'll talk about it when Kinloch arrives. I wonder why his people sent him here." John had studied some books, but not the Peerage.
John took an envelope from the desk, and wrote Scaife's name upon it. "Dumber, please give Mr. Scaife this with my compliments. It is, as you see, a bill of fare." "Very good, sir." John placed the card into the envelope and handed both to Dumbleton. "With my compliments!" "Certainly, sir." "And after Chapel." "Yes, sir." A moment later Warde came in.
A year at Harrow confirmed Scaife's confidence in his father's worldly wisdom. Big for his age, strong, with his grandsire's muscles, tough as hickory, he had become the leader of the Lower School boys at the Manor. The Fifth were civil to him, recognizing, perhaps, the expediency of leaving him alone ever since the incident of the cricket stump.
He rushed here and there with so little judgment that the odds amongst the sporting fellows went to six to four against the Manor. At the beginning of the game they were six to four the other way. And, inevitably, Scaife's wild and furious efforts unbalanced Desmond's play. Both boys were out of their proper places to the confusion of the rest of the team.
I can't help about Dick," and, shaking off Miss Scaife's detaining hand, she went to play the usual imposture. Eleanor looked round in bewilderment. Seeing Lady Perry, she was struck with an idea, crossed the room, and joined the ex-Premier's smiling, pleasant wife. Lady Perry had noticed enough to be au fait with the situation at a word.
John's face was very red, and his fists were clenched. "Nothing," he gasped. "Only this I'd like to kill Scaife. I'd like to cut off his infernal head." The Caterpillar laughed indulgently. "Jonathan, you're a rum 'un. You think it wicked to play cards on Sunday; but you would like" he imitated John's trembling, passionate voice "you would like to cut off Scaife's infernal head."
A score of times protest died when Scaife murmured, "There I go again, forgetting the gulf between us;" and always Desmond swore stoutly that the gulf, if a gulf did yawn between them, should be bridged by friendship and hope. But, insensibly, Caesar's ideals became tainted by Scaife's materialism. Scaife, for instance, spent money lavishly upon "food" and clothes.
The great name of Kinloch was new to him, not new to Scaife, who, for a boy, knew his "Burke" too odiously well. "Why shouldn't his people send him here?" he asked. "Because," Scaife's tone was contemptuous, "because the Kinlochs they're a great cricketing family go to Eton. The duke must nave some reason." "The duke?" "Hang it, surely you have heard of the Duke of Trent?"
Scaife's Horse was being organized, but in any case would not take the field before several months had elapsed; the Demon intended to be on the spot when the first shot was fired. To all this gunpowder-talk John listened with envious ears and a curious sinking of the heart.
Word Of The Day