"Well, that's all very well, you see, Stewart, but you've been using cribs with us for ever so long, and so you must stick to them now."
"I shan't," I said. "I mean to act on the square."
"Go on the square for anything else you like, but you mustn't throw us overboard in this crib business. We're all in the same boat, you see, Charley, and it won't do; the other fellows don't like it."
"Then they can lump it," I said; and I was turning away, but Tom ran after me.
"Now, be reasonable, old fellow; I've stuck up for you," he said, "for Jackson and the rest wanted to kick up a row as soon as they found you were doing your lessons on the square; but I said, 'Let him be a bit, and have his own way; he'll soon be glad of cribs again.'"
"But I don't mean to have anything to do with them again, I tell you, Tom; it's downright dishonest."
"Hoighty toighty—dishonest! You'll tell us next we're all thieves!" said Tom, angrily.
"What's that he says?" asked Collins, who happened to hear the last words.
"Oh, he's setting up for a Solomon after the Chandos pattern; says we are all dishonest—little better than thieves, of course."
"What do you mean, Stewart?" said Collins, turning upon me fiercely.