`Zee 'un comin' up street, then?' Stalky pointed to the unconscious Tulke. `He've niver been kissed by no sort or manner o' maid in hees borned laife, Mary. Oh, 'tees shaamful!'

`Whutt's to do with me? 'Twill come to 'un in the way o' nature, I rackon.' She nodded her head sagaciously. `You niver want me to kiss un -- sure-ly?'

`'Give 'ee half-a-crown if 'ee will,' said Stalky, exhibiting the coin.

Half-a-crown was much to Mary Yeo, and a jest was more; but --

`Yeu'm afraid,' said M`Turk, at the psychological moment.

`Aie!' Beetle echoed, knowing her weak point. `There's not a maid to Northam 'ud think twice. An' yeou such a fine maid, tu!'

M`Turk planted one foot firmly against the inner door lest Mother Yeo should return inopportunely, for Mary's face was set. It was then that Tulke found his way blocked by a tall daughter of Devon -- that county of easy kisses, the pleasantest under the sun. he dodged aside politely. She reflected a moment, and laid a vast hand upon his shoulder.

`Where be 'ee gwaine tu, my dearr?' said she.

Over the handkerchief he had crammed into his mouth Stalky could see the boy turn scarlet.

`Gie I a kiss! Don't they larn 'ee manners to College?'

Tulke gasped and wheeled. Solemnly and conscientiously Mary kissed him twice, and the luckless prefect fled.

She stepped into the shop, her eyes full of simple wonder.

`'Kissed 'un?' said Stalky, handing over the money.

`Iss, fai! But, oh, my little body, he'm no Colleger. 'Zeemed tu-minded to cry, laike.'

`Well, we won't. You couldn't make us cry that way,' said M`Turk. `Try.'

Whereupon Mary cuffed them all round.

As they went out with tingling ears, said Stalky generally, `Don't think there'll be much of a prefects' meeting.'

`Won't there, just!' said Beetle. `Look here. If he kissed her -- which is our tack -- he is a cynically immoral hog, and his conduct is blatant indecency. Confer orationes Regis furiosissimi when he collared me readin' "Don Juan."'

`'Course he kissed her,' said M`Turk. `In the middle of the street. With his house-cap on!'

`Time, 3.57 p.m. Make a note o' that. What d'you mean, Beetle?' said Stalky.

`Well! He's a truthful little beast. He may say he was kissed.'

`And then?'

`Why, then!' Beetle capered at the mere thought of it. `Don't you see? The corollary to the giddy proposition is that the Sixth can't protect 'emselves from outrages an' ravishin's. 'Want nursemaids to look after 'em! We've only got to whisper that to the Coll. Jam for the Sixth! Jam for us! Either way it's jammy!'