I have never quite got
up to a thousand, but once I nearly let the cat out by saying nine
hundred and fifty, nine hundred and fifty-one, when my father
stopped for breath. He gave me a look, I can tell you, but I don't
think he saw what I was after. Maud was seized with hysterics. But
he isn't a bad sort of parent, as they go; he fusses, but he lets
one do as one wants. I suppose I oughtn't to give my people away;
but I never can see why one shouldn't talk about one's people just
as if they were anybody else. I don't think I hold things sacred,
as the Dean says: 'Reticence, reticence, the true characteristic of
the English gentleman and the sincere Christian!'" and Jack
delivered himself of some paragraphs of the Dean's famous annual
sermon to freshmen.
"It's abominable, the way you talk," said Howard; "you will corrupt
my ingenuous mind. How shall I meet your father if you talk like
this about him?"
"You'll have to join in my game," said Jack. "By George, what
sport; we shall sit there counting away alternately, and we will
have some money on the run. You have got to say all the figures
quite distinctly to yourself, you know!"
Presently Jack said, "Why shouldn't we go down together? No, I
suppose you would want to go first? I can't run to that. But you
must come as soon as you can, and stay as long as you can. I had
half promised to go and stay a week with Travers. But now I won't.
By George, there isn't another don I would pay that compliment to!
It would simply freeze my blood if the Master turned up there.
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