I don't care a hang." Every sentence of this brilliant oration was cheered to the echo, and Heathcote was installed into his new dignity with loud enthusiasm.
He had not a ghost of an idea who the "Sociables" were, what they did, or what they wanted; but he had a rough idea they were a select assembly not favoured by the monitors or the masters, in which a fellow was popular in proportion to his record of "rows." And Heathcote, whose one ambition it was at present, under Pledge's influence, not to figure as a prig or a hypocrite, cast his lot in with them, and chanced the rest.
It did occur to him to enquire if Dick was a member.
"Yes, he's a member, rather," said Spokes, the president.

"He was elected this evening, wasn't he, you fellows ?" "Rather," echoed the high-souled club, winking at one another.
Whereupon Heathcote asked no more questions, and proceeded to enjoy himself.
As the Club was breaking up, Twiss, one of its leading spirits, came up to the new member and said-- "Look here, youngster, don't you forget you're on your honour not to say a word about the Club outside to anybody.

Not to Pledge, or your chum, or anybody." "But Dick's a member too," said Heathcote.
"That does not matter.

You mayn't even speak about it to me, or pretend you belong to my set.

Do you twig ?" "All right," said Heathcote, "it's a good job you told me, though, for I was going to tell Dick about my election." "Well, you know now.