Mr. Mainwearing raised his eyebrows. “High Cross School,” he said.
“I’m at the School of St. George and the Venerable Bede,” said Peter. “So how can I?”
“No,” said Mr. Grimes; “you’re joining here now.”
“But I can’t go to two schools.”
“Consequently you’re coming to this one,” said Mr. Grimes.
“It’s very sudden,” said Peter.
“What’s this about the School of Saint What’s-his-name?” asked Mr. Mainwearing of Mr. Grimes.
“It’s just a sort of fad school they’ve been sending him to,” Mr. Grimes explained. “We’re altering all that. It’s a girls’ school, and he’s a growing boy. It’s a school where socialism and play-acting are school subjects, and everybody runs about with next to nothing on. So his proper guardians have decided that’s got to stop. And here we are.”
Mr. Mainwearing regarded Peter heavily while this was going on.
“Done any square root yet?” he asked suddenly.