Of course boys could not sit and talk of nothing. And of course it was hardly to be expected they would confine their conversation altogether to a review of their misdeeds. The talk gradually became general, and occasionally even animated.
“Guess Pil and I will have to shut up chemistry after this,” said Cusack.
Pilbury smiled grimly.
“What do you call the beastly stuff?” asked Telson.
“Sulphuretted hydrogen,” said Cusack, briskly. “First of all you take a—”
“Oh, shut up shop! We don’t want a chemistry lecture,” broke in Parson.
There was a brief pause, then Philpot asked, “I say, is it true then, there’s not going to be a new race?”
“Of course not,” said Parson; “what’s the use when we can’t be sure of fair play?”
“Jolly right too,” said Cusack, delighted to agree with his old enemy for once; “those schoolhouse cads are cheats, every one of them?”
“All right!” exclaimed Telson jumping up; “I’ll fight you, young Cusack, for that!”