"The results are fair," said Mr. Ogilvie.
"I think of your carpet," said Mary, quaintly.
"We always lay down an ancient floorcloth in the bay window before
the boys come home," said Carey, laughing. "Here, Bobus."
And as he came out headforemost at the window, the two ladies
discreetly drew off to leave the conversation free.
"So, Brownlow," said Mr. Ogilvie, "I hear you don't want to try your
luck elsewhere."
"No, sir."
"Do you object to telling me why?"
"I see no use in it," said Bobus, never shy, and further aided by the
twilight; "I do quite well enough here."
"Should you not do better in a larger field among a higher stamp of
boys?"
"Public school boys are such fools!"
"And what are the Kenites?"
"Well, not much," said Bobus, with a twitch in the corner of his
mouth; "but I can keep out of their way."
"You mean that you have gained your footing, and don't want to have
to do it again."
"Not only that, sir," said the boy, "but at a public school you're
fagged, and forced to go in for cricket and football."
"You would soon get above that."
"Yes, but even then you get no peace, and are nobody unless you go in
for all that stuff of athletics and sports. I hate it all, and don't
want to waste my time."
"I don't think you are quite right as to there being no distinction
without athletics.
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