Nor, except when spoken to, could he bring himself to open his lips or take part in the general talk.
Blandford, however, who, ever since the incident of the bill, seemed to consider himself entitled to play a patronising part towards his schoolfellow, continued to keep him from lapsing into obscurity.
"Where's your brother living ?" he asked presently.
"He's in town, too," said Reginald.

"My mother and he and I live together." "Where?
I'd like to call on your mother." "We live in Dull Street," said Reginald, beginning in sheer desperation to pluck up heart and hang out no more false colours.
"Dull Street?
That's rather a shady locality, isn't it ?" said Mr Pillans.
Reginald rounded on him.

Blandford might have a right to catechise him; but what business was it of this numbskull's where he lived?
"You're not obliged to go there," he said, with a curl of his lip, "unless you like." Mr Shanklin smiled at this sally, a demonstration which considerably incensed the not too amiable Mr Pillans.
"I'll take precious care I don't," said the latter.
Reginald said "Thanks!" drily, and in a way so cutting that Mr Shanklin and Blandford both laughed this time.
"Look here," said the unwholesome Pillans, looking very warm, "what do you say that for?
Do you want to cheek me ?" "Don't be a fool, Pillans.

It doesn't matter to you where he lives," said Blandford.
"Thank goodness it don't--or whether he pays his rent either." "It's a pity you had to leave Garden Vale," said Blandford, apparently anxious to turn the conversation into a more pacific channel; "such a jolly place it was.

What do you do with yourself all day long in town ?" Reginald smiled.
"I work for my living," said he, keeping his eye steadily fixed on Mr Pillans, as if waiting to catch the first sign of an insult on his part.
"That's what we all do, more or less," said Mr Shanklin.