"He evidently wants my opinion on his wall-paper." "`_At 7.30, for a few minutes' chat_'-- nothing about tea and toast, though," said Stafford.
"`_Believe me, yours very truly, M.

Railsford_.' So I do believe you, my boy!" said Felgate.

"Are you going, you fellows ?" "Must," said Ainger; "it's a mandate, and there's no time to get a doctor's certificate." "What does he want to chat about, I wonder ?" said Stafford.
"The weather, of course!" growled Barnworth; "what else is there ?" Stafford coloured up as usual when anyone laughed at him.
"He wants to get us to take the oath of allegiance, you fellows," said Felgate.

"`Will you walk into my parlour?
said the spider to the fly,' that's what he means.

I think we'd better not go." Ainger laughed rather spitefully.
"It strikes me he'll find us four fairly tough flies.