Yes, rather--three on each hand." "But Mr Sharpe only said--" "Sharpe--what's he got to do with it?
Come on, look alive, or I shall be late for tea." I could barely be angry with him.

He didn't seem to be able to see the matter from my point of view at all, and was so genuinely friendly with it all.
"The third will be a hot one," said he, as I held out my hand; "but I don't want to break the cane--it's a good one." The third _was_ a hot one.
"Hurt you much ?" said Tempest, carefully examining his weapon.
"Middling," said I.
"Now the other hand.

I suppose you've not got to know many chaps yet?
Did you get any cricket in the vac. ?" "No," said I, extending my left in a deprecating way.
"We did," said he.

"We were jolly near licking--" "Ow!" "Feel that much?
Good cane, isn't it?
Now the other two will be easy." To do him justice they were, or would have been had they not fallen uncomfortably near the site of the first.
"Stick the cane back," said he,--"and look here," he added in the old friendly way which always captivated me, "if you'll take any advice you'll drop playing the fool.

It may be funny, but it doesn't pay.
Fellows get bored by it." "But I really--" "I know you can't help it.