Nobody had a right to demand his services, neither had he yet attained to the responsibilities of a monitor.

He could please himself, and therefore yielded himself unquestioningly to the somewhat flattering attentions of the two seniors.
No, not quite unquestioningly.

Short as was the time since his brother had left, it had been long enough for Riddell to let the boy see that he wished to be his friend.

He had never told him so in words, but Wyndham could guess what all the kind interest which the new captain evinced in him meant.

And it was the thought of this that kept alive the one or two scruples he still retained in joining himself to the society of Gilks and Silk.
And so he declined the invitation of these two friends to defy the captain's summons.
"Well," said Gilks, "if you must put your head into the lion's mouth, you must, mustn't he, Silk?
But I say, as you _are_ to get pulled up, I don't see why you shouldn't have all the fun you can for your money.
What do you say to a game of skittles at Beamish's ?" "_What_ a nice boy you are!" said Silk, laughing; "the young 'un doesn't know Beamish's." "Not know Beamish's!--at the Aquarium!" said Gilks.
"No.