John had the tact not to speak; but he shook his head dolefully.
"And I couldn't chuck him, even if I wanted to, which I don't—which I don't," he repeated, with an air of satisfying himself rather than John. And John divined that Scaife's hold upon Desmond's affections was not so strong as he had deemed it to be. Desmond continued, "But I want you, too, old Jonathan, and if—if——"
"All right," said John, nobly. He perceived that Desmond's loyalty to Scaife made him hesitate and flush. "I understand, Cæsar, and if I can't be first, let me be second; only, remember, with me you're first, rain or shine."
Desmond looked uneasy. "Isn't that a case of 'heads I win, tails you lose'?"
John considered; then he smiled cheerfully, "You know you are a winner, Cæsar. You're cut out for a winner; you can win whatever you want to win."
"Oh, that's all rot," said Desmond. He looked very grave, and in his eyes lay shadows which John had never seen before.
And so ended John's first year at Harrow.
FOOTNOTES:
[25] All Public Houses are out of bounds.