Boys, I know, pay little attention to the conventionalities, and are seldom found consulting books on etiquette; but those who have been well brought up, and accustomed at home to an air of refinement, are quick to detect ill-breeding and bad manners in those older than themselves, and who "ought to know better." So it came about that Mr.Grice was unpopular, and the boys in his class bemoaned their fate, and called him uncomplimentary nicknames.
We left the three friends standing at the corner of Broad Street.
The church clock had just struck the quarter-past five, and by this time it was dark, though the street was lit up by the gas-lamps and the long rows of shop windows.
"I hope no one sees us," said Jack Vance.

"I'm mud all over.

We must look sharp, or we shall be late." "Hullo!" exclaimed Diggory, "look out! Here's that wretched little Grice coming; there, he's stopped to look into the ironmonger's shop.
We must dodge past him somehow, or he'll want to know where we've been." The trio crossed quickly over to the opposite side of the street, and hurried off at full speed in the direction of the school.
All boys were supposed to be on the school premises by half-past five, and at that time the door leading to the outer world was locked by the prefect for the day.
Oaks, who happened to be on duty, was standing in the passage talking to Allingford when the three juveniles arrived, out of breath and flushed with running.
"Hullo, you kids! where have you been ?" inquired the captain.
Diggory launched out into a brief description of their many adventures; Oaks laughed heartily.

"Well," he said, pulling out his watch, "you've just got back in time; half a minute more, and you'd have been outside, my boys." The prefect locked the door, and continuing his conversation with Allingford, started off down the passage.

On reaching what was the main corridor on the ground floor, they paused for a moment, and stood warming their hands at the hot-water pipe, and it was while thus engaged that they were suddenly accosted by Mr.Grice, who bustled up to them in a great state of excitement.
"Are you on duty, Oaks ?" "Yes, sir." "Have any boys come in late ?" "No, sir." "Well, three boys passed me in the town; I think one of them was young Trevanock.