He tried to stuff me up by making me bring a cheese-cutter cap.

But I wasn't such a fool as I look." Alas! it was my turn to colour up.

Had Dicky, I wondered, seen my square billycock?
At that moment Tempest's name was called, and we saw our old Dux rise complacently in his seat and hold up his hand.
It was difficult to feel angry with him.

He looked so cool and determined, his shoulders were so square, and the year that had elapsed since we met had added three good inches to his stature.

It was a feather in a fellow's cap to know Tempest, even if he did have his little joke at one's expense now and then.
I came to the conclusion that Dicky and I must be the only two new boys in the house, for none of the numerous hands, grimy and otherwise, which went up were cased in anything but their native skin.
Presently the register clerk came to an end of his list, and I was beginning to congratulate both myself and Brown on our probable escape from detection when Mr Sharpe said-- "New boys, come forward." My left-hand neighbour interposed no obstruction now, as, followed by Dicky, I sidled out of my place and advanced along with five other youths to the front.