"Yes, and a few others besides, but some of them talk about giving up cribs through you, and it ain't fair. Swain will find out about the cribs if you are so much longer over your lessons than we are. Mind, this isn't the only thing, Charley. We're old chums—"
"We were at one time, Tom, but I can't forget that farm-yard business," I put in.
"Oh, botheration to the farm-yard! That was months and months ago, and everybody has forgotten that, if you haven't."
"I'm not so sure of that, Tom," I said.
Tom put his hands into his pockets and whistled. After a minute or two he said, "Well, Charley, you'll never be the sailor I thought you would."
"Bother being a sailor! What's that got to do with it?" I said. "You were talking about our being chums."
"Well, only this—sailors don't bear malice like you."
"I don't bear malice. It isn't that at all. You didn't hurt me, except that I felt I'd lost my old chum, when you did that sneaking business, and let Chandos take your punishment."
"Oh, bother Chandos! I'm sick of hearing the young lady's name, and I didn't come to talk about her, but about these cribs. I tell you, Charley, if you don't take them up again there'll be no fun this half."
"We can live without fun, I suppose," I said, crossly.