He was preparing to be very polite now, when suddenly the voice of the Dean's Ernest ordering people about in the garden struck upon his ear.

He had not seen the Dean's Ernest for nearly three months, for the very good reason that that gentleman had been experiencing his first term at his private school.

Last year young Ernest and Jeremy had been, on the whole, friendly, although Ernest, who was nine, and strong for his age, had always patronised.

And now?
Jeremy longed to inform his friend that he also shortly would proceed to school, that in another six months' time there would be practically no difference between them.
Nevertheless, at the present moment there was a difference...

Ernest had a whole term to his credit.
New arrivals gently insinuated the Cole family into the garden.