Only yesterday Wildney was chatting with Vernon up here (you were out, or Vernon would not have been here) while I was reading; they didn't seem to mind me, and I'm sure you'd have been vexed to the heart if you'd heard how they talked to each other.

At last I couldn't stand it any longer, and bouncing up, I boxed both their ears smartly, and kicked them down stairs." As Eric said nothing, Duncan continued, "And I wish it ended in talk, but----" "But I believe you're turning Owenite.

Why, bless me, we're only schoolboys; it'll be lots of time to turn saint some other day." Eric was talking at random, and in the spirit of opposition.

"You don't want to make the whole school such a muffish set as the rosebuds, do you ?" There was something of assumed bravado in Eric's whole manner which jarred on Duncan exceedingly.

"Do as you like," he said, curtly, and went into another study.
Immediately after came a rap at the door, and in walked Wildney, as he often did after the rest were gone to bed, merely slipping his trousers over his nightshirt, and running up to the studies.
"Well, you'll come to the Anti-muffs, won't you ?" he said.
"To that pestilential place again ?--not I." Wildney looked offended.