Part 37 (2/2)

”Oh, yes; we are prefects; we haven't got to do any work, and it's interesting coaching the kids.”

Foster looked dubiously at him. He had no side to coach. He also had to do some work for his Sandhurst exam. next term. But Gordon's crown was as yet too fresh to feel the tarnis.h.i.+ng damp of disappointment.

October went by with its red-gold leaves and amber sunlight. November swept in bringing a procession of long evenings and flickering lights.

The first boom of the war fever died down. The Fifteen played listlessly, Upper followed Upper. Puntabout followed puntabout. No one cared who was in the side. Foster was left out--and thanked heaven!

”I am about sick of being cursed off my feet, and told I shall be no good in the trenches because I miss my pa.s.ses. 'The Bull' has gone war-mad.”

Gordon _had_ to keep in the side; it would not do for the House captain to get a reputation for slackness. His play lacked its old fire and dash, but was still good enough to earn him his place. He knew he was going off; that he was not nearly so good as he had been the year before; the thought worried him. But still A-K Junior was doing very well.

One Sat.u.r.day evening there came the sound of thumping feet down the pa.s.sage, someone banged himself against the door, and a well-known voice was shouting:

”Hullo, Caruthers, my lad!”

Gordon swung round to find Mansell, with out-stretched hand, looking magnificent in the top-boots and spurs of the R.F.A.

”Come in. Sit down. By Jove! this is like old times. I must call up Archie! Archie!... Here's someone to see you.”

Mansell was just the same as he had been a year ago, a little older, a little stronger, a little more the man of the world. He was full of stories; how his men had nearly mutinied because they thought their separation allowance insufficient; how he had chased deserters half across England; how he had taken the pretty waitress at the cafe to the music hall.

”It's life, that's what it is! I never knew what life was till I went to Bournemouth. Oh, my G.o.d, we do have a time! d.a.m.ned hard work, of course, but we do have a time in the evenings! My lord, I nearly put my foot in it the other night. I saw the devil of a smart girl walking down the street, and I could have sworn I knew her. I went up and said: 'Coming for a stroll?' O Lord, you should have seen her turn round. I thought she would fetch a policeman. And we have a jolly good footer side, too.

We fairly smashed the S.W.B. last week. Oh, it's grand. But, still, I suppose you are not having a bad time here. It's good to see you lads again.”

On the next day Mansell stood an enormous tea in the games study.

Everyone of any importance came. The gramophone played, songs were sung.

Never was there seen so much food before. Mansell seemed like a Greek G.o.d who had for a moment descended to earth to reveal a glimpse of what Olympus was like.

Gordon went down and saw him off by the five-forty-five.

”My word! I envy you, Mansell,” he said.

”I shouldn't. I often wish I was back again in the House. All those old days with Claremont and Trundle, the footer; and all that. We had a darned fine time. Make the most of it while you've got it.”

As Gordon walked back alone, he had the unpleasant feeling that the best was over, that the days of ragging, of footer, of Claremont, of Trundle had gone beyond recall. The friends of his first term, Hunter, Lovelace, Mansell, they had all gone, scattered to the winds. He alone remained, and with a sudden pain he wondered whether he had not outlived his day, whether, like t.i.thonus, he was not taking more than he had been meant to take. But then, as he walked through the small gateway, and majestically wandered up the Chief's drive, he reflected that, even if his splendour was a lonely one, without the laughter and comrades.h.i.+p he could have wished for, yet it was none the less a splendour. He must hold on. As Mansell had said, he must make the best of it while he had it.

A small boy came up nervously.

”Please, Caruthers, may I have leave off games for a week? I have had a bad foot.”

”Did Matron say so?”

”Oh yes.”

”All right, then.”

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