travel books: asked Freeman for the names and Freeman did not know, unless someone had told him. It was all horribly confusing, and through all was the shame of being treated like a silly lower boy by Robin. He remembered now what Robin had said. " You're bloody little fools. Now get to bed and don't let the night hag catch you." It had been such a grand evening at Devil's Island. He wished his mother could have seen him dancing with Lady Bridget. She would have been proud. And the cigarettes and the cider cup and the car. And then to be ticked off by Robin as if they had done something small and contemptible. Denis determined he would never mention the evening before Robin. He would be simple and natural with Robin, as he had tried to be before. He would certainly never ask him who told Wren. It was lovely to relax every limb and lie there in the darkness. The praepostor's entry next mornin books

Books > Old Books > Decent Fellows (1930)

Page 121

CHAPTER IX

asked Freeman for the names and Freeman did not know, unless someone had told him. It was all horribly confusing, and through all was the shame of being treated like a silly lower boy by Robin. He remembered now what Robin had said. " You're bloody little fools. Now get to bed and don't let the night hag catch you." It had been such a grand evening at Devil's Island. He wished his mother could have seen him dancing with Lady Bridget. She would have been proud. And the cigarettes and the cider cup and the car. And then to be ticked off by Robin as if they had done something small and contemptible. Denis determined he would never mention the evening before Robin. He would be simple and natural with Robin, as he had tried to be before. He would certainly never ask him who told Wren. It was lovely to relax every limb and lie there in the darkness.
The praepostor's entry next morning and the visit to the headmaster were something of an anti-climax. Swipings usually followed a long harangue in which the shame and folly of his misdoings had been heaped heavy on the victim's head. But Denis and Peter and Oliver had all had time to digest the folly of their exploit and regain their courage. In sullen boredom they listened to the headmaster's exposition of the Eton school rules. Their penitence had already crystallised into the need for greater care and more thoughtful planning on the next occasion. They only wanted to get it over.
" Bailey," said the headmaster at the top of the stairs. The others waited outside. Fusee, a school servant of traditional title, took charge of Denis. He loosed his braces and hurried down his trousers, while the praepostor held out the birch with shy reverence. Denis knelt on the block and Fusee held his shirt and coat tails in position. Denis suddenly wanted to laugh. It was so ridiculous to be praying there on the block with a bare behind. Fusee's grip was unnecessarily firm. He had no intention of escape.
Praepostor handed the birch. The headmaster passed its sharp twigs across the palm of his hand. He drew back a