'It's an awful nuisance. For one thing it makes them so jolly strict about bounds.'
'Yes.'
'I wanted to go for a bike ride this afternoon. There's nothing on at the School.'
'Why don't you?'
'What's the good if you can't break bounds? A ride of about a quarter of a mile's no good. There's a ripping place about ten miles down the Stapleton Road. Big wood, with a ripping little hollow in the middle, all ferns and moss. I was thinking of taking a book out there for the afternoon. Only there's roll-call.'
He paused. Ordinarily, this would have been the cue for Reade to say, 'Oh, I'll answer your name at roll-call.' But Reade said nothing. Barrett looked surprised and disappointed.
'I say, Reade,' he said.
'Well?'
'Would you like to answer my name at roll-call?' It was the first time he had ever had occasion to make the request.
'No,' said Reade.