Part 20 (1/2)
”If you please,” said I, ”I'm a new boy--can you tell me where to go?”
The senior, a bland, good-looking sort of youth, surveyed me carefully and replied--
”To bed, I should say.”
”All right, thanks,” said I; ”which way is that?”
He laughed pleasantly.
”What's your name?”
”Thomas Jones.”
”You needn't mind about the Thomas up here. Where have you come from?”
”Do you mean, where do I live, or where have I been just now?” I inquired, anxious to avoid any misunderstanding.
”Look here,” said he, ”hadn't you better take a seat, if you want to tell me all your family history? I'm sure it's very interesting, but it's rather late in the day to begin now. Where have you come from, not originally, but just now?”
I flushed up very much at this polite rebuke. Whatever made every one so anxious to a.s.sume that I was an a.s.s?
”Pridgin's,” said I. ”I'm his f.a.g, and he's having a tea party.”
”Oh,” said the youth; ”who's there?”
”Only Tempest and Wales,” I replied, feeling more at my ease.
”No one else?”
”No,” I answered. Then, guessing he might have the same antipathies as Tempest, I volunteered--
”Crofter's not asked.”
My companion opened his eyes. ”Indeed--why?”
”I don't know. Only I know Tempest wouldn't have gone if he had been.
Please which way do I go?”
”What objection has Tempest to Crofter?”
”I don't know--I suppose he's a beast. Tempest hates beasts.”
The boy laughed.
”He must be very fond of you,” said he.
”Yes,” said I, ”we're old chums; we were at Dangerfield together, and both got ex--”
There I was, after Tempest's warning about keeping my exhibition dark.
”Both got what? _Expelled_?” inquired the senior, with interest.
”Well--yes,” said I, thinking that the best way of getting out of it.