"But he's an awful ass to look at," pleaded Spencer.
"What's wrong with him? Doesn't look nearly such a goat as you," said Phipps, with the refreshing directness of youth.
"He's got yellow hair," argued Spencer.
"Why shouldn't he have?"
"He looks like a sort of young Sunday-school kid."
"Well, he jolly well isn't, then, because I happen to know that he's had scraps with some of the fellows in his house, and simply mopped them."
"Well, all right, then," said Spencer reluctantly.
The historic meeting took place outside the school shop at the quarter to eleven interval next morning. Thomas was leaning against the wall, eating a bun. Spencer approached him with half a jam sandwich in his hand. There was an awkward pause.
"Hullo!" said Spencer at last.
"Hullo!" said Thomas.