Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/38

 "Perhaps not, but there's more kinds of fagging than one, you take my word for it; and I prefer to do mine out of school," said the big new boy, significantly, as their ways parted.

Carpenter wanted to discuss his meaning, but Jan took no interest in it, and was evidently not to be led into any discussion against his will. He had in fact a gift of silence remarkable in a boy and not a little irritating to a companion. Yet he broke it again to the extent of asking Heriot at table, and that à propos of nothing, when the other boys would "start to arrive."

"The tap will be turned on any minute now," said Heriot, with a look at his sister. "In some houses I expect it's running already."

"Which house is Devereux in?" asked Rutter, always direct when he spoke at all.

"Let me think. I know—the Lodge—the house opposite the chapel with the study doors opening into the quad."

Carpenter's silence was the companion feature of this meal.

The boys had time for a short walk afterwards, and more than a hint to take one. But they only went together because they were thrown together; these two had obviously as little else in common as boys could have; and yet, there was something else, and neither dreamt what a bond it was to be.

"Do you know Devereux?" Carpenter began before they were out of their quad.

"Why? Do you know him?"

Jan was not unduly taken aback; he was prepared for anything with regard to Devereux, including the next question long before it came.

"We were at the same preparatory school, and great