Page:Tom Brown's School Days (6th ed).djvu/357

 they understand it, and I don't know what we're to come to with any other."

Tom looked at him, pleased and a little puzzled. He had never heard East speak his mind seriously before, and couldn't help feeling how completely he had hit his own theory and practice up to that time.

"Thank you, old fellow," said he. "You're a good old brick to be serious, and not put out with me. I said more than I meant, I dare say, only, you see, I know I'm right; whatever you and Gower and the rest do, I shall hold on—I must. And as it's all new and an up-hill game, you see, one must hit hard and hold on tight at first."

"Very good," said East; "hold on and hit away, only don't hit under the line."

"But I must bring you over, Harry, or I sha'n't be comfortable. Now, I allow all you've said. We've always been honorable enemies with the masters. We found a state of war when we came, and went into it, of course. Only don't you think things are altered a good deal? I don't feel as I used to to the masters. They seem to me to treat one quite differently."

"Yes, perhaps they do," said East; "there's a new set, you see, mostly, who don't feel sure of themselves yet. They don't want to fight till they know the ground."

"I don't think it's only that," said Tom. "And then the Doctor, he does treat one so openly, and like a gentleman, and as if one was working with him."

"Well, so he does," said East; "he's a splendid fellow, and when I get into the sixth I shall act accordingly. Only, you know, he has nothing to do with our lessons now, except examining us. I say, though," looking at his watch, "it's just the quarter. Come along."

As they walked out they got a message to say "that Arthur was just starting and would like to say good-bye"; so they went down to the private entrance of the School-house, and found an