“No, filthy exercise. I’ll take you down to bathe, if you don’t bar washing, and then I’ll take you to school shop, and you may eat all there is. Lucky I’m flush.”
“Right oh, thanks awfully,” said David. “But you won’t be flush long.”
They got up to go, but at the door Maddox paused.
“Best of all the days I’ve had at school, David,” he said.
“Same here,” said David.
School bathing did not begin for another hour, but Maddox had the sixth-form privilege of bathing whenever he chose, and Adams, whom they ran to catch up on their way down, gave David leave to go with him. He had dutifully and delightedly watched every ball of the match, and had helped to carry David into the pavilion as there was no chance of assisting at the entry of Maddox.
“Yes, by all means, yes, you—you blest pair of sirens,” he said, quoting from the Milton Ode which was to be sung at concert at the end of the term. “And take care of David, Jonathan, and don’t let him sink from being top-heavy with pride. We shall want him to bowl next year.”
They trotted on for a little, in order to arrive at the bathing-place in the greatest possible heat.
“I say, wasn’t that ripping of him?” said David. “Didn’t know he knew we were pals.”
“Jolly cute,” observed Maddox.