Fellows who would have liked to kick him yesterday now found themselves loving him like their own brother, and the enthusiasm felt for him grew to such a pitch that it really seemed as if not only his hat-box, but he himself, was in danger.

However, by a little judicious manoeuvring he got safe into his study, and, after a hasty consultation with Pil, decided to ask Curtis, Philpot, Morrison, and Morgan, their four most intimate friends, to do them the pleasure of joining in a small "blow-out" after third school.
These four worthies, who, by a most curious coincidence, happened to be loafing outside Cusack's study-door at the very moment when Pilbury started off to find them, had much pleasure in accepting their friend's kind invitation; and the rest, finding themselves out of it, yapped off disconsolately, agreeing inwardly that Cusack was the stingiest beast in all Willoughby.
If punctuality is a test of politeness, Curtis, Morgan, Philpot, and Morrison were that afternoon four of the politest young gentlemen in the land; for they were all inside Cusack's study almost before the bell dismissing third school had ceased to sound.
"Jolly brickish of you, old man," said Morrison, complacently regarding the unpacking of the magic hat-box.

"I've not seen a dough-nut for years." "I got these at a new shop," said Cusack, trying to rescue some of the sherbet which had fallen in among the herrings.

"Gormon never has anything but red-currant jam in his.

These are greengage." "How jolly prime!" was the delighted exclamation.
"Three-halfpence each, though," said Cusack, laying the herrings out in a row on the table.