“Are you busy, old man?” asked Corder.

“I don’t want you here,” said Selby.

“Why, what’s the row?”

“Row? You’re a sneak, that’s the row. Cut!”

Surely Selby must be out of sorts to talk like that. Corder stood in the door for a moment, on the off-chance that his friend might be joking. But no; Selby turned his back and began to read a book.

This was getting monotonous. Corder returned to his study to think it out a little more. His fag, Cash, was there looking for a paper.

“Hullo, youngster! that you? We didn’t get beaten after all, to-day, I suppose you heard.”

Cash’s reply was laconic, to say the least of it. He turned round and put out his tongue.

“None of your cheek, I say,” said Corder, “or I’ll—”

“How dare you speak to me!” said the junior; “you’re a cad—I’m not going to fag for a cad.”