"You see a change then," said Paul, "you do see a difference, eh?"
"Rather!" said Tom expressively. "You've come back what I call a beastly sneak, you know, this term. The other fellows don't like it; they'll send you to Coventry unless you take care."
"I wish they would," said Paul.
"You don't talk like the same fellow either," continued Tom; "you use such fine language, and you're always in a bait, and yet you don't stick up for yourself as you used to. Look here, tell me (we were always chums), is it one of your larks?"
"Larks!" said Paul. "I'm in a fine mood for larks. No, it's not one of my larks."
"Perhaps your old governor has been making a cad of himself then, and you're out of sorts about it."
"I'll thank you not to speak about him in that way," said Paul, "in my presence."
"Why," grumbled Tom, "I'm sure you said enough about him yourself last term. It's my belief you're imitating him now."
"Ah," said Paul, "and what makes you think that?"