“Of course,” he said, “one can’t defend the way Chowdler does things; and nothing could possibly have been worse than his behaviour the other day. Still, one must remember that he has had great provocation—great provocation.”
“That’s just like you!” replied Mr. Bent. “Chowdler is for trailing his coat across the green, and when he succeeds in tripping somebody, you say that he has had great provocation. What provocation, pray! Name!”
“Well,” said Mr. Plummer, “there was the le Willow business to begin with.”
“A matter of principle,” said Mr. Bent. “A headmaster who sacrificed his principles to a Chowdler, at the first summons, wouldn’t be fit to be a crossing-sweeper!”
“And then there was his refusal to make Cheeny Prefect,” said Mr. Plummer doggedly.
“Again a question of principle!” cried his companion. “And you’re talking as if Chowdler were the captain of the ship and Flaggon his second mate.”
“No, I’m not,” said Mr. Plummer. “But, after Gussy, Chowdler’s position under a new man was bound to be difficult, and Flaggon ought to have made allowances; he ought to have been more tactful.”
“Tact on Chowdler,” said Mr. Bent, “is like a feather on a hippopotamus. Chowdler doesn’t ask for tact; he demands unconditional surrender.”
“Anyhow,” persisted Mr. Plummer, “though he does it badly, Chowdler represents what many, if not most, of us feel. You know I’m not one of the people who go shouting their criticisms on the house-tops: but, candidly, I don’t approve of the new régime.”
“What don’t you approve of, pray?” asked Mr. Bent scornfully. “The weeding out of the old and incompetent? the attempt to restore discipline? the——”