`He says he is a bully. Right he is. Put him in the corner. No more japes for Campbell. Now, Sefton!'
`You devils! You young devils!' This and much more as Sefton was punted across the carpet by skilful knees.
`"The bleatin' of the kid excites the tiger." We're goin' to make you beautiful. Where does he keep his shaving things? [Campbell told.] Beetle, get some water. Turkey, make the lather. We're goin' to shave you, Seffy, so you'd better lie jolly still, or you'll get cut. I've never shaved any one before.'
`Don't! Oh, don't! Please don't!
`Gettin' polite, eh? I'm only goin' to take off one ducky little whisker--'
`I'll--I'll make it pax, if you don't. I swear I'll let you off your lickin' when I get up!'
`And half that moustache we're so proud of. He says he'll let us off our lickin'. Isn't he kind?'
M`Turk laughed into the nickel-plated shaving-cup, and settled Sefton's head between Stalky's vice-like knees.
`Hold on a shake,' said Beetle, `you can't shave long hairs. You've got to cut all that moustache short first, an' then scrope him.'
`Well, I'm not goin' to hunt about for scissors. Won't a match do? Chuck us the match-box. He is a hog, you know; we might as well singe him. Lie still!'
He lit a vesta, but checked his hand. `I only want to take off half, though.'
`That's all right.' Beetle waved the brush. `I'll lather up to the middle--see? and you can burn off the rest.'
The thin-haired first moustache of youth fluffed off in flame to the lather-line in the centre of the lip, and Stalky rubbed away the burnt stumpage with his thumb. It was not a very gentle shave, but it abundantly accomplished its purpose.
`Now the whisker on the other side. Turn him over!' Between match and razor this, too, was removed. `Give him his shaving-glass. Take the gag out. I want to hear what he'll say.'
But there were no words. Sefton gazed at the lop-sided wreck in horror and despair. Two fat tears rolled down his cheek.
`Oh, I forgot! I say, Sefton, what did you bully Clewer for?'
`Leave me alone! Oh, you infernal bullies, leave me alone! Haven't I had enough!'
`He says we must leave him alone,' said M`Turk.
`He says we are bullies, an' we haven't even begun yet,' said Beetle. `You're ungrateful, Seffy. Golly! You do look an atrocity and a half!'
`He says he has had enough,' said Stalky. `He errs!'
`Well, to work, to work!' chanted M`Turk, waving a stump. `Come on, my giddy Narcissus. Don't fall in love with your own reflection!'
`Oh, let him off,' said Campbell from his corner; `he's blubbing, too.'
Sefton cried like a twelve-year-old with pain, shame, wounded vanity, and utter helplessness.