JACK seemed rather annoyed to find that I was not alone, though Alan Faulkner immediately decided that it was time he went to his morning's work and rode off. Jack wanted me to ride with him later in the day, and was vexed when he learned that Mr. Dicks was going to take me for a drive. His ill-humour increased when I told him that I had promised to ride with Mr. Faulkner on the following day.
"It is too bad!" he said morosely. "You might have kept the last day for me!"
"The last day?" I said.
"Yes," he said, "you know I go up for my exam on Monday."
I had forgotten that the day was so near. I felt almost frightened as I realised it.
"Oh, Jack, I do hope you will do well!" I said. "Do you feel fairly ready?"
"I don't feel in the least fit," he said. "I believe I shall make a horrid mess of it again, and then you will have nothing more to say to me, I suppose. In that case I shall just enlist as a Tommy."
"Don't talk nonsense!" I said severely. "You will not fail this time; you cannot, and must not. You really have worked, you know."
"Thanks for giving me so much credit," he said, "but that has really little to do with it. I am unlucky at these things. The old fogeys who prepare the papers are sure to hit upon questions that will bowl me out."
"Rubbish!" I said. "Make up your mind to succeed, and you will come out all right."