Page:Jaspar Tristram (1899).djvu/19

 ‘Here’s Orr!’ and every one fell back.

Through the opening thus made he saw come lazily swaggering along, his hands deep in his trouser-pockets, a boy, who was taller by the whole of his bullet-head and broad shoulders than him or indeed, as it seemed, anybody there; at his side he recognised the little chap who had poured out the tea. For a moment or so Orr looked him in silence up and down; then, turning to one of those who were standing round:

‘What’s his name?’ he asked.

‘Tristram, Orr! Jaspar Tristram!’ they all shouted out. ‘Did you ever hear such a name?’

‘Oh, well,’ said Orr, ‘of course we can’t have such a rotten name as that here! What shall we call him?’

‘I votes we call him “Rosy ” as he blushes so!’ observed the good-looking small boy who stood by Orr; and even as he was speaking Jaspar noticed what a curious charm there was in his voice. Everybody began to applaud:

‘Rosy, Rosy!’ they cried.

‘I say,’ suddenly said a voice in his ear; it came from a boy who was sprawling across the desk, up against which he had been gradually pressed: ‘I say, do you know why your tie’s like a telescope?’ and at the same instant an arm was slipped quickly under his, and his tie was jerked so sharply out of his waistcoat that its sailor’s-knot was drawn into a wisp unpleasantly close about his throat.. And in the midst of the general laugh that followed, he saw one of them hitch his leg up on to the desk behind, evidently preparatory to scrambling up in order to get a better view of what was going forward.

‘I say!’ began another; but he did not answer, being busy tucking back his tie.

‘I say!’ repeated the other who had now elbowed his way to the front.

‘What?’ he asked in an impatient voice; he felt his temper beginning to give way. Never before had any one laid hands upon him after such a fashion; and, besides, it was very irritating to see Orr standing there looking on as if the whole thing were being done for his amusement.