Oh, it was you, was it ?" said he, catching sight of me.
"Yes," said I.

"Is Mr Sharpe at home ?" "At home ?" demanded the official, redder in the face than ever.

"You seem to be pretty much at home." Then, apparently struck by my appearance, he pulled himself up and honoured me with a long stare in which all the assembled boys joined.
"Who is it ?" "One of the porters from the station, I should say, from the looks of him," suggested a boy.
"Whoever it is, don't you ring that visitors' bell--do you hear ?" said the man-servant.

"If you want anything, go round to the side door and don't interfere with the young gentlemen." "But I'm a new boy," said I.

"I'm--I'm an exhibitioner;" at which there was a great roar of laughter, which even my self-satisfaction could hardly construe into jubilation.
I began to have a horrible suspicion that I had committed some great _faux pas_ by ringing the visitors' bell, and blushed consciously, to the increased amusement of my fellow "Sharpers." "Can I see Mr Sharpe ?" I inquired, thinking it best to take the bull by the horns.
"Can't you wait ?" said the servant.