Presently lunch was announced, and Howard led the way to a little
panelled parlour which looked out on the river. They both ate with
healthy appetites; and presently Jack, looking about him, said,
"This room is rather nice! I don't know how you make your rooms so
nice?"
"Mostly by having very little in them except what I want," said
Howard. "These panelled rooms don't want any ornaments; people
spoil rooms by stuffing them, just as you spoil my cat,"--Jack was
feeding the cat with morsels from his plate.
"It's a nice cat," said Jack; "at least I like it in your rooms. I
wouldn't have one in my rooms, not if I were paid for it--it would
be what the Master calls a serious responsibility." Presently,
after a moment's silence, Jack said, "It's rather convenient to be
related to a don, I think. By the way, what sort of screw do they
give you--I mean your income--I suppose I oughtn't to ask?"
"It isn't usually done," said Howard, "but I don't mind your
asking, and I don't mind your knowing. I have about six hundred a
year here."
"Oh, then I was right," said Jack. "Symonds said that all the dons
had about fifteen hundred a year out of the fees; he said that it
wouldn't be worth their while to do it for less. But I said it was
much less. My father only gets about two hundred a year out of his
living, and it all goes to keep me at Cambridge. He says that when
he is vexed about things; but he must have plenty of his own.
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