THEIR TALK.
But it is time to listen to what they are saying, and see what we can gather out of it.
"I don't object to your theory," says the master, "and I allow you have made a fair case for yourself. But, now, in such books as Aristophanes, for instance, you've been reading a play this half with the Doctor, haven't you?"
"Yes, 'The Knights,'"[25] answered Tom.
"Well, I'm sure you would have enjoyed the wonderful humor of it twice as much if you had taken more pains with your scholarship."
"Well, sir, I don't believe any boy in the form enjoyed the set-tos[26] between Cleon and the sausage-seller more than I did—eh, Arthur?" said Tom, giving him a stir with his foot.
"Yes, I must say he did," said Arthur. "I think, sir, you've hit upon the wrong book there."
"Not a bit of it," said the master. "Why, in those very passages of arms, how can you thoroughly appreciate them unless you are masters of the weapons? and the weapons are the language, which you, Brown, have never half worked at; and so, as I say, you must have lost all the delicate shades of meaning which make the best part of the fun."
"Oh! well played—bravo, Johnson!" shouted Arthur, dropping his hat and clapping furiously, and Tom joined in with a "Bravo, Johnson!" which might have been heard at the chapel.
"Eh! what is it? I didn't see," inquired the master; "they only got one run, I thought?"