Everybody knew that had he properly exerted his abilities he was capable of beating almost any boy; so, to quiet his conscience, he professed to ridicule diligence as an unboyish piece of muffishness, and was never slow to sneer at the "grinders," as he contemptuously called all those who laid themselves out to win school distinctions.
"Ha, ha!" said Wildney, "that's rather good! No, Eric, it's too late for you to turn 'grinder' now.

I might as well think of doing it myself, and I've never been higher than five from lag in my form yet." "Haven't you?
But what's the regular lark you hinted at ?" "Why, we'll go and seize the Gordonites' _pigeons_, and make another dish of them." "Seize the Gordonites' pigeons! Why, when do you mean ?" "To-night." Eric gave a long whistle.

"But wouldn't it be st--t-- ?" "Stealing ?" said Wildney, with a loud laugh.

"Pooh! '_convey_ the wise call it.'" But Eric still looked serious.

"Why, my dear old boy," continued Wildney, "the Gordonites'll be the first to laugh at the trick when we tell them of it next morning, as of course we will do.