He put his hand up to his collar, loosening it, and then he crossed the room and flung open the door.
"Hello, you fellows," he cried, "What d'you want of a chap now?"
The little subaltern tumbled into the room, the other half dozen members of the mess on top of him.
"Hello, yourself," they cried, "How d'you like the job the Colonel's given you?"
"Like it!" Trevelyan threw back his head and his large, well formed throat pulsed as he spoke, "Why, it's the greatest thing that ever happened to a chap of my age!"
His messmates formed a little group around him.
"How's your nerve?"
Trevelyan laughed. It was only Stewart, who stood by silent, listening, who felt vaguely the jar in it.
"Oh, my nerve is all right. How's your own at the prospect of a row? 'I go to prepare a place for you'—" he went on in a deep chant.
"Robert!"