"Oh, that's all cram. It won't do to come over us with that tale, you know, Charley; you've used 'em for months and months before you came here, I know, and you'll be glad enough to use 'em again; but you'll find then the fellows won't help you, and so I've come to give you one more chance. Now then, yes or no?"
"No," I said, firmly.
"Oh, I'm not going to take your answer in such a hurry as all that. Just think a bit, old fellow, what you'll do when the summer comes, and you have to sit stewing over your lessons in that musty old class-room while we are in the cricket-field. Why, you'll never get that big ship of yours finished unless you take to cribs again."
"I can't help it," I said, sulkily, and wishing all the time I could get my lessons done sooner.
"Oh yes, you can, and you needn't think to cram me with the tale that you are fond of grind, because I know better. You hate it like poison, and if you weren't afraid of Miss Chandos and her slow-going lot you'd take to cribs again like a sensible fellow."
"Who says I'm afraid of Chandos?"
"I do, and so do the other fellows; and she's just taking all the spirit out of you, and making you as big a coward as she is herself."
"I tell you, Tom, you're mistaken in thinking Chandos is a coward, and I'll fight any fellow that dares to say so."
"Oh, everybody knows you can fight, but that isn't the thing. I haven't come to quarrel with you, Charley, but to talk over this. Look here now, things are getting awfully dull and slow. We haven't had a real good lark this half, for all our time has to be spent in grind."
"You and Collins and Jackson always get done in good time."