In the fifth-form room,
after supper, when such matters were often discussed and arranged, their
names were for ever coming up.
"I say, Green," Snooks began one night, "isn't that new boy, Harrison,
your fag?"
"Yes; why?"
"Oh, I know something of him at home, and should like to excuse him.
Will you swop?"
"Who will you give me?"
"Well, let's see. There's Willis, Johnson. No, that won't do. Yes, I
have it. There's young East; I'll give you him."
"Don't you wish you may get it?" replied Green. "I'll give you two for
Willis, if you like."
"Who, then?" asked Snooks. "Hall and Brown."
"Wouldn't have 'em at a gift."
"Better than East, though; for they ain't quite so sharp," said Green,
getting up and leaning his back against the mantelpiece. He wasn't a bad
fellow, and couldn't help not being able to put down the unruly fifth
form. His eye twinkled as he went on, "Did I ever tell you how the young
vagabond sold me last half?"
"No; how?"
"Well, he never half cleaned my study out--only just stuck the
candlesticks in the cupboard, and swept the crumbs on to the floor. So
at last I was mortal angry, and had him up, and made him go through the
whole performance under my eyes. The dust the young scamp made nearly
choked me, and showed that he hadn't swept the carpet before. Well, when
it was all finished, 'Now, young gentleman,' says I, 'mind, I expect
this to be done every morning--floor swept, table-cloth taken off and
shaken, and everything dusted.
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