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Well, I dont know exactlynobody ever told me. I suppose because all boys are sent to a public school in England. But what do you think yourself? What do you want to do here, and to carry away? Tom thought a minute. I want to be A 1 at cricket and football, and all the other games, and to make my hands keep my head against any fellow, lout or gentleman. I want to get into the sixth before I leave, and to please the Doctor; and I want to carry away just as much Latin and Greek as will take me through Oxford respectably. There now, young un, I never thought of it before, but thats pretty much about my figure. Aint it all on the square? What have you got to say to that? Why, that you are pretty sure to do all that you want, then. Well, I hope so. But youve forgot one thing, what I want to leave behind me. I want to leave behind me, said Tom, speaking slow, and looking much moved, the name of a fellow who never bullied a little boy, or turned his back on a big one. Arthur pressed his hand, and after a moments silence went on: You say, Tom, you want to please the Doctor. Now, do you want to please him by what he thinks you do, or by what you really do? By what I really do, of course. Does he think you use cribs and vulgus-books? Tom felt at once that his flank was turned, but he couldnt give in. He was at Winchester himself, said he; he knows all about it. Yes, but does he think you use them? Do you think he approves of it? You young villain! said Tom, shaking his fist at Arthur, half vexed and half pleased, I never think about it. Hang itthere, perhaps he dont. Well, I suppose he dont. Arthur saw that he had got his point; he knew his friend well, and was wise in silence as in speech. He only said, I would sooner have the doctors good opinion of me as I really am, than any mans in the world. After another minute, Tom began again: Look here, young un, how on earth am I to get time to play the matches this half, if I give up cribs? Were in the middle of that long crabbed chorus in the Agamemnon; I can only just make head or tail of it with the crib. Then theres Pericless speech coming on in Thucydides, and The Birds to get up for the examination, besides the Tacitus. Tom groaned at the thought of his accumulated labours. I say, young un, theres only five weeks or so left to holidays; maynt I go on as usual for this half? Ill tell the Doctor about it some day, or you may. Arthur looked out of the window; the twilight had come on, and all was silent. He repeated in a low voice, In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. Not a word more was said on the subject, and the boys were again silentone of those blessed, short silences in which the resolves which colour a life are so often taken. Tom was the first to break it. Youve been very ill indeed, havent you, Geordie? said he, with a mixture of awe and curiosity, feeling as if his friend had been in some strange place or scene, of which he could form no idea, and full of the memory of his own thoughts during the last week. |
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