"Of course he won't if you don't," Mansell said, "but I think he's worth it. I say, let's have a feed to-night. There's just time before hall to order some stuff. Lovelace, rush off to the tuck-shop, and put it down to my account."
Gordon found it impossible to work during hall; he fidgeted nervously. He felt as he had felt on the last day of his first term before prize-giving. He knew if he was going to get his Colts' cap he would get it early that night. Stewart always gave colours during first hall. He sat and waited nervously; work became quite impossible. He looked through The Daily Telegraph and flung it aside; then picked up The London Mail; that was rather more in his line.
There was a sound of talking down the passage. He heard Clarke's voice saying:
"Yes, down there, third study down, No. 16."
A second later there was a knock on the door. He managed to gulp out: "Come in."
"Gratters on your Colts' cap, Caruthers. Well played!"
Stewart shook hands with him. The next minute Gordon heard him walking to the school notice-board in the cloister. He was pinning up the notice.
Gordon sat quite still; his happiness was too great....
No one is allowed to walk about in the studies before eight dining-hall. For a quarter of an hour there was silence in the passage.
Eight struck; there was an opening of doors.